AMHERST i 

IN TFjE L 

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BOYLSTON 




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AMHERST 



IN THK 



GREAT CIVIL CONFLICT 



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1861-65. 




COMPILED BY EDWARD D. BOYLSTON. 






K. D. 150YLST0X, I'KINTER, 
AMHERST, N. II. 

1803. 






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PREFACE 



No duty is more patent or potent than that of a careful 
preservation of records of a public nature ; and the binding 
potency of the obligation is onl}^ measured by the charac- 
ter-value of the events recorded. Ere a century had elaps- 
ed, oft and careful search revealed little or nothing of the 
stirring local events that transpired on the night succeeding 
the tight at Lexington, when, upon our fair Plain, 
"There was mustering in hot haste." 

With vvluit intense interest would a detailed and well-au- 
thenticated record of those days that so "tried men's souls," 
novv be regarded I 

It is from the inspiration of the experience of such vain 
researches, that the writer feels called upon to place upon 
permanent record such data as remain in his possession, as 
Secretary of the Town Committee, in the days of the late 
Rebellion, and to make as careful and faithful a record of 
the part acted by our citizens in the struggle to maintain 
the Tnion, as may be. 



Q^ 




C'oU'MHlA ! CoLiiMHiA ! through trials untold, 

Thou art clothed in new beauty, as the furnace-trifd ,uokl 

Cemented in blood — the best of the Land — 

"K Tluribus Unum," the Union shall stand. 

May the Stars that adorn "Old Glory" entwine 
Long as the clustering Pleiades shine ; 
And earth's nations own thy prowess and power, 
As, on thy shores gathered, they do at this hour. 



t 




It is no part of the design of this work to i-eoord the 
history of the Kebelliou, l)ut only the part whicli the town, 
and those who represented it, acted in the terrible struggle 
of years for its supj^ression. This is a sacred duty we owe 
to the brave nieu who perilled their lives, and suffered un- 
told hardships, and not a few even death itself, on the l)attle- 
field, to preserve the liberty and unity of the nation : and it 
is, also, due to those who may come after us, that, know- 
ing the price of the boon bestowed, and those by whom 
secured, they may duly regard it, and, with grateful hearts, 
cherish the memory of tlieir noble benefactors. 

It is needless to repeat the many overt acts of the South 
that preceded actual hostility. They are elsewhere a thous- 
and times recorded, to be the wonder and astonishment of 
all who shall live after us. These oft-repeated provocations 
had thoroughly aroused the people of the North to a sense 
of the impending danger ; and when the first sounds of act- 
ual war came rumbling over the land from the guns of Fort 
Sumter, there was but one sentiment in all the Free States, 



5 AMHKKST IN 'HIE WAH— 18()l-()5. 

that THE Union must bk prkservkd. cost what it may. 
This feelini;- was well embodied in the startling, prophetic 
expression of the brave and devoted General Banks :--It is 
better that a million of men should fall in the struggle than 
that the Union of the States should be sundered !" 

Such was the feeling and expressed convictions of the cit- 
/ens of Amherst, as for the first time they were called to- 
oether to consult upon the crisis in our nation, as indicated 
bvthe call of President Lincoln for "75,000 volunteers tor 
three months' service, to re-possess the Government of the 
Forts and positions wrested from it by the Rebels. ' 

The doings of the people of Amherst during the early and 
eventful days of the war previous to the Town assuming its 
responsibilities in the matter officially, may best be given 
and preserved, through the records of the various citizens 
meetings, and those authorized to act by them : 

\ meetino- of the citizens of Amherst was holden at the 
Town Hall, Monday evening, April 23d, 18(]1, to respond to 
tlie President's call for troops, and to aid m putting down 
the Southern Rebellion. It was the most enthusiastic meet- 
ng in this place since that which io^ o-'^^^, ^^ ^"^Tof 
of the Declaration of Independence ^^om the old Ro^^^^^^^ 
the Common. Previous to entering the hall, the citizens 
formed in line, and, to beat of the stirring drum, marched 
out and saluted the beautiful flag that floated upon our flag-- 
staff, in the centre of the Common, <^\"-ectly opposite to the 
Town Hall. They then counter-marched to the Hall, where 
tliey were called to order by B. B. David, Esq and the tol- 
lowing organization, as reported by a comniittee, effected: 

B B David, President : Perley Dodge, Charles RichaM- 
son,*Levi J. Secomb, David Stewart, Vice Presidents ; >.. D. 
Bovlston, C. E. Hapgood, Secretaries. 

On taking the Chair the President feehngly announced the 
obiect of the meeting, dwelt on the importance of sustam- 
ino the Government and the Union, and patriotically pledg- 
ed^'his all to the call and service of the Country. 



AMHEKST TN THE AVAR— 1861-Hr). 7 

Prayer having been offered by the Rev. J. (i. J)avis, pat- 
riotio and eloquent speeches were made in response to calls. 
bv E. S. Cuttei', P. Dodge, C. H. Campbell, Esqnires ; Revs. 
Davis, Pike and Boardman ; C. E. Gi-ater, Francis Wright, 
Horace Clark, E. D. Boylston, C. K. Hapgood, Di. F. P. Fitch 
and James L. Hardy. 

The following Preamble and Resolutions, ofteied by E. I). 
Boylston, were unanimously adopted: — 

Whkkeas, By the secession of several of the States of the 
Tnion, and their causeless aggression by arras upon the ves- 
sels, forts and Flag of the Union, war has been inaugurated 
in our land, and whereas the Executive of ihe Nation has is- 
sued his Proclamation, calling upon all the loyal States for 
troops, and appealing "to all loyal citizens to favor, facilitate 
and aid in the effort to maintain the honor, the integi'ity and 
the existence of our National Union, and the perp.'tuity of 
popular government, and to redress wiongs already long 
enough endured," therefore 

Resolred, That we, the citizens of Amherst, laying aside all 
party distinctions, cordially and heartily respond to the call 
of the President of the United States, and pledge ourselves to 
do all in our power to sustain the Federal Government in its 
effort to maintain the laws and integrity of the counti-y. 

Resolved, That, inasmuch as we regard the Constitutional 
liberties secured to us by the Fathers of the Revolution, as 
the most valuable legacy we can bequeath to our children, no 
efforts or sacrifices shall be lacking on our part to preserve 
them in their original purity, and to hand them down unim- 
paired to posterity. 

As old Amherst stood first and foremost in furnishing both 
men and means to carry forwaid that Revolution by which 
those Constitutional liberties were won, and by the valor of 
her soldiers and the public sf)irit of her citizens, won for her- 
self an enviable rej^utation — 

Resolved, That, in emulation of the noble d'3eds of our fath- 
ers and stimulated by their worthy examples, we .pledge our 
lives, our pn-operty, and our sacred honor to the cause of our 
country, and guarantee the support of the families of any of 
our citizens who may volunteer their services in its defense. 

Resolved, That a Finance Committee be appointed, whose 



S AMHEHST IN TIIK WAl{-_ls(;i-(;r,. 

duty it shall be to raise the luouey, and pr()\i(le t'oi- tiie su]^- 
j)Oi't of the families of au\ of our citi/.:';is w iio may voliinteei' 
to meet tlie re<iuisitioii of our (lovernineiit. 

Perley Dodge. Charles H. ('am])l)ell, Hdwaid 1). Hoylstoii. 
("has. Richardson, and F. P. Fiteh. Ix'ing nominated hy th' 
eliair, were duly elected as a Finance Committee. 

Voted to raise the pay of each volunteer to -"^IS a month. 

Several having ali'eady enlisted in tlie service of the State, 
three cheei's were given for the first vohmteers, with a will, 

A pledge to meet any assessments made by the Finance 
committee was largely signed, and fourteen young men offei- 
ed their services to tight the battles of the Constitution. 

David Stewart, James L. Hardy and Henry Nichols were 
a])p()inted to solicit pledges of aid to the Finance committee. 

Immense enthusiasm prevaded, and but one feeling and 
s[»irit pervaded onr citizens, of calm determination to stand 
by the flag and Constitution, or "perish in the last ditch." 

On the suggestion that many of our citizens were desi]-- 
ous of forming for the purpose of drill, it was voted to ad- 
journ to Tuesday evening, to consider that (piestion. At 
lO adj'd.. and the volunteers went througli a nnircliing drill. 

The following is a co})y of enrollment at this meeting : 
We whose names are hereunto annexed, enroll ourselves 
as Volunteers in the service of the Cnited States, and hold 
ourselves ready to respond to any call by the President for 
troops to aid in the defense of the Constitution and laws. 

wm w. sawtei.le chas. h. champney 
(;e(). w. (;e()H(;e charles a. hale 

R. W. BCRDTCT; JAMES B. DAVID 

ALFRED L. MOORE HENRYS. OBER 

DANIEL A. PEABODY FRANK CHFCKERING 
(iEORGE W. RUSSELL WM. F. RCSSELL 

JOHN ^[. FOX ^ NEWTON T. HARTSHORN 
CHAS. H. PHELPS GEO. P. GRISWOLD 

True record — Attest, F>. D. Boylston, Recg. Sec'y. 

On the following aftei'uoon the volunteers formed and, to 
the music of the life and drum, marched to Milford, to pay 
their respe(^ts to, ami to fraternize with the volunteers of that 



CITIZENS' 
WAR COMMITTEE 

See page 8. 







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AMHERST IN THE WAR— Isiil-r;."). o 

]>lace, from wlioiii and the citizens they received marked at- 
tentions. On their way they were escorted to a Dagnerrian 
saloon by the writer, and an Ambrotype taken, pn (jvoupc,, 
wliicli forms tlie frontispiece to these pages. 

In its issue of May :}, the veteran Cabinet, that had al- 
ready recorded two wars of the country, spake thus : 

"Every man in the present crisis has new duties and new 
responsibilities. The few are called to go to the war, the 
many must remain a^^ home. But, he is not worthv of the 
name or priviliges of an American citizen, \vho asks to be 
excused from doing his full share to sustain the CtLORious 
OLD Flag, for which our Fathers bled ! We trust there is 
not a man in old Amherst who is not ready to live, f(jl>U 
] IE in defense of the Stars and Stripes. 

A first duty is, to stand generously by our sons who honor 
and serve us personally in the service. In this our people 
have nobly acted, and will not falter. 

A no less binding obligation rests npon the people, to lib- 
erally stand by those they may leave behind, and in any way 
dependent upon them for support. To this, too, our people 
have pledged themselves. 

Further thaii this w^e would now only counsel, the high- 
est industry ; a wise economy ; and a confident, hopeful and 
determined spirit, that shall rise superior to the discourage- 
ments of the hour, and see beyond the storm, the Stars 
AND Stripes waving over the entire Union in more 

THAN PRISTINE GLORY '" 

At same date is the following statement — "Our citizens 
are fully up to the emergencies of the national crisis. Am- 
herst is already represented at different points by good and 
true men wdio have enlisted for defense of the Flag, — tw^o 
at Fort Monroe, three or more at Concord, and thirteen Adth 
the Rifle Company now being drilled at Milford, under the 
efficient instruction of Clinton S. Averill, Esq This com. 
pany elected its officers on Wednesday, as follows : George 
Gillis, Captain : Humphrey Ramsdell, 1st Lieut. ; James B. 
David, 2d Lieut. ; George W. George, Ensign. The names 



H) AMHERST IN THE WAR— Tsfn-f;:;. 

of tlutst* at Concord are Geoi-ge Vose and the two Manning 
V)roMiers from Chestnut Hills, those at Milfoid, the youn- 
men who enlisted at the nieetinL;-. Monday evenin.u." 

Tuesday evening, A[.ril 'io, 18(5], — ^Nlet according to ad- 
{oni-ninent. President called meeting to order. Clias. B. 
'J'uttle was called \ipon, and responded. Rev. Wm. Clark 
also feelingly addressed the meeting. 

Voted to instruct the Selectmen to call a meeting immedi- 
ately, t*^^ see if the Town will raise the money needed l\v the 
Finance Committee. 

This course being objected to by tlie volunteers, as throw- 
ino' their families upon the town, the vote was re-corisidered. 

E. S. Cutter, Esq., C. E. Hapgood and Gilbert Hills were 
chosen a Committee to draft a code of by-laws for a Drill 
Com]>any of the citizens. Adjourned to Wedi.esday even- 
ing, 7 o'clock, to hear their report. True record. cScc. 

Wednesday evening, April 24, bS61. The committpe on 
Drill Company I'eportn^d a (b-aft of By-laws, which, after 
amendment, was adopted, as follows : 

We, the undersigne(b being desirous of obtaining instruc- 
tion in (b-ill and military tactics, for that purpose hereby 
ji,oyee to form oui'selves into an Association, to be known 
as the Amhkrst Dkii.i. Coups, and to abide by the follow- 
ing rules : — 

1. Every person, upon joirnng, shall {>aj into the treasuiy twen- 
ty-five cents, and sign the By-laws. 

2 The o-eneral l)usiness attair^; of the Corps .shall be coiiducteil 
hy an Executive Coinniittee, consisting of tln-ee, to be chosen by 
ballot, ami by niajoi'iry vote A Treasurer shall be chosen in the 
.»>anie manner, who shall have cliarge of the funds, and also a Clerk. 

8 One (or uior?) competent Drill Master sliall be obtained, and 
all members shall be subject to Ins oiders whde in the drill room. 

4. Companies may be formed from members of the Corps, num- 
bering in officers and men accordmg to the regulations of the U. S. 
Army. Each Company may elect its own Officers. 

5. The Executive Connnittee shall make arrangements in rela- 
tion to the time and place of drills, and have general authority over 
the Companies. 



AM 11 El {ST IX TllK WAK—lSfil-r,: 



11 



'ii. Meinl)ei-.>< may lie expelleil hy vote of tlie Coiii|);my to which 
tliey V)eloiig. 

7. These lules immv be altereil by a two-.liirds vote of memV»ers 
of rlii^ Cc'i'ps pres iit "t the meeting called for that purpose. 

The followini;- ]vprsoiis subscribed these By-T^aws : 



Benjamin Jepson 
Henry R. Boutelle 
Henry A, Nichols 
William A. Mack 
Cherles B. Tuttle 
Warren Damon 
Gilbert Small 



K. S. Cutter 

C. E. Grater 

E. iV. Sawtelle 

John L. Kendall 

Francis K. Boutell 

Charles II. David 

George E. Boutelle 

Chailes E. Hapgood Eli S. Gutterson 

E. I). Boylston .James V. Priiice 

Henry AV. Marvell Daniel Wheeler 

Wm. Wetherhee T^evi J. Secoml) 

David Stewart iC, H. Campbell 

Franklin E. Russell: S. B. Melendy 

Charles C. DanforthiDaniel Haitshorn 

John F. Whitinu- C. M. Wrioht 



E. L. Wright 
Eli A. Sawtelle 
J. W. Pillsbnrv 
Franklin AV. Hills 
Robert Boutelle 
Charles W. Rhodes 
C. J Crooker 
Wm . B. Hartwell 
James L Hardy 
Henry W. Secomb 

F. A. (t rater 
Aaron S. Wilkins 
Eben Converse 
X, H. Geoi'se 



Voted, to ])roceed to the choice of Executive Committee. 
Chose E. I). Boylston, James L. Hardy, Levi J. Secomb. 

Chose Nathaniel H. George for Clerk. 

Voted, to choose four Drill blasters from the Company to 
serve until one from abroad can be procured. Chose Chas. 
H. Campbell. Levi J. Secomb, Daniel Hartshorn, Charles E, 
Hapgood. 

Voted to drill at Town Hall. Adjourned. 

True record, &c. 

Efficient and qualified Drill Masters being all required for 
the prompt training of Volunteers, after a few meetings the 
company was given up. 

April 23d, 1861. The Committee on Finance, chosen at 
the citizens' meeting, the 22d. for the purpose of carrying 
into effect the votes passed at that meeting for the raising 
and disbursing of money for the benefit of volunteers for the 
United States' Army and their families, met at the Office of 
Perley Dodge, Esq., and was organized by the choice of Per- 



12 A M H E R ST I X T 1 1 K W A R - 1 s()I-().5. 

ley Ddoge, as Chainiiaii, and E. D. Boylstoii. for Secretary. 
Voted, that in ntaking assessments u]^x)n those who have 
subscribed the pledge to the Committee, it be according to 
poll and estate. Adj'd. to call of chairman. True rec. &c, 

Wednesday, April 24. Met at call of chairman. C'hai- 
les Richardson was instructed to visit Nashua, and E. D. 
Boylston, Milford, and ascertain facts respecting opportuni- 
ties for enlistment. Adj'd, to call of chair. True rec &c. 

Thursday, April 25. Committee met at 6 p. m. ^Vere 
met by committee from Milford, and at 6 o'clock, made pro- 
posal to the Volunteers of Amherst, as follows :— "If they 
enlisted in the company forming at Milford, to pay them 
'fll per month, and $2 per week for board while under drill 
and until they are called for, and come regularly under pay 
of the State ; then, agreeably to vote, to make their pay $18 
per month True record, &c, 

Friday, Api-il 26. The committee being notified of the 
acceptance, by the Volunteers, of the above proposal, pro- 
ceeded with them lo Milford, and entered upon the I'oll of 
the company the names of Wm. W. Sawtelle, (ieorge Wash- 
ington George. Alfred Moor, Daniel A. Peabody, George W. 
Russell, Charles H, Phelps, James B. David, Henry S. Ober 
Frank Chickering, Newton T. Hartshorn, George P. Gris- 
vvoid, Joseph Johnson, Rodney W. Bnrdick. 

Their pay to commence from this day. 

Same evening the committee held a meeting and chose 
Dr. F. P, Fitch to vi.sit JMilford to procure information, and 
purchase flannel, &c. 

Voted to pay the above Volunteers f2 for their board at 
the end of each w-eek, and at the end of each month -i^ll each 
until called for by the State. Adj'd. to to-morrow evening, 
7 o'clock. True record, &c. 

Saturday, April 27. The com. met agreeably to adj't. all 
present ; elected Charles Richardson, Treasurer ; voted to 
pay each Volunteer on drill at Milford i|2 for his board the 
past week, and agreed to advance money to the Treasure}- 
to meet immediate demands, Perlev Dodge. C. H, Campbell 
and E. I). Boylston each |100. 

Voted to call the ladies together to make shirts, drawers, 



AMHERST IN THE WAK— Ls()l-{J(). 18 

^c. for soldiers, ^Monday, at 7 p. in., at vvliich time the ma- 
terials ordered will he ready. Adj'd. to that time. 'J'rue 
record, &c. 

Mondays 2 p. m. A large number of ladies assembled at 
the Congregational Chapel, and commenced the work as- 
signed them. 

[Honorable mention of their noble work will be <iuly giv- 
en in future pages.] 

Tuesday, April oO. The committee was called together 
at 12 m., by the chairman, to decide nf)on the Revolvers for 
the soldiers. Voted to pjocure one of Allen & Wheelock's 
live, shooters' 4-iiich barrels, for each Volunteer from this 
place. Appointed Charles Richardson, sub-committee, to 
proceed to Boston, this day, and procnre them. True rec. 

Wednesday, April ol. Chas. Richardson and E. D. Boyls- 
ton met the Milford Finance committee and the Amherst 
Volunteers, at Milford. ]\Iade agreement with George W. 
George and John M, Fox that the -17 additional pay guaran- 
teed them to make their pay fl8, shall be paid monthly to 
their families, at the end of each month. True record, &c. 

Thursday, May 1, Charles Richardson and E, D, Boyls- 
ton vi&ited jVIilford, to confer with Volunteers and commit- 
tee ; and at 1 p. m,, the committee w-as called together by 
the chairman. The Revolvei's having arrived were accepted 
by the committee. Voted, that they be distributed to the 
Volunteers this afternoon, at 8 o'clock, with the proviso that 
if any of the Volunteers should fail, from any cause, to be 
regularly enlisted into the service of the United States, the 
Revolvers such individuals hold shall be returned to this 
committee. True record, &c, 

Thursday, o p m. The com. met Volunteers at Milford. 
Accepted of Jesse Barrett as one of our men, and also, Tay- 
lor W, Blunt, Gave pistols and fixtures to these two, and 
to all the previously named Volunteers, except Joseph John- 
son, he having withdrawn. True record, &c, 

Saturday, May 8, 7 i^. m. The committee met, and voted 
to pay off Volunteei's in full next Monday morning, it being 
$8 for board to Tuesday, the 6th, the day they are to leave 
for Portsmouth, and i$7 as one month's extra advance pay. 



14 AMHERST IX TIIK WAR— iSdl-Cf). 

to M;iv '2')- Perley Dod^i^e an I K. 1). Hoylstoii advanced to 
the Treasurer of the conmiittee each ^100 additional to the 
previous advaiicejuent. True record, &c. 

May U. Committee met, present I)o<lge. Fitch. I>oy!ston. 
\'oted to request Selectmen to call a Town meeting. Vot 'd 
to pay families of Volunteers if8 a month, A'itli extra aid in 
case of sickness. True record, &c. 

]\lay 21. Committee met at office of P. Dodge, rnd voted 
to pay soldiers tlie'ir extra pay at end of each month and to 
allow faniilies of Volunteei's at rate of ^10 a montli. instead 
of '18, as ])reviously votec. Ti'ue record, &c: 

July 1, Committee met at P, Dodge's office. The Treas- 
urer refunded money advanced hy members of the comnnt- 
tee. the Town having at a lueeting, June 2, voted to instruct, 
the Selectmen to boriovv if2(K)0 to meet the exigencies! of the 
committee. Voted to pay the $2\ (three months' extra) of 
Oeoi'ge Vose, who went in the First Regiment, to John F. 
Mliiting. he having advanced the same. True record. &c. 

Sept. 0, committee met, present Dodge, Fitch, Campbell. 
Voted to pay Joseph Cady, who enlisted from this place, the 
extra ^7 a month, for three months he served. Ti'ue I'ec. &c. 

These several i-ecords of the Committee of Finance are 
attested and signed by the Secretary, as the first. On the 
loth of October, at a Town meeting called for that purpose, 
a full report of its doings was made, covering the disburse- 
ent of over f^7()0, w Inch was acce|»ted. The Town from that 
date assuuied officially all matters connncted with its sol- 
diers and their families. 

dp:parture of fihst vountf.ers. 
With this commenced the heavy personal griefs and trials 
of the long war. The fine Company enlisted from this vi- 
ctnity, under Capt, Gillis, in which our Volunteers were en- 
rolled, was to leave for Fort Constitution, on Tnesday. the 
14th, via Concord, where they were to receive their ecjuij)- 
ments, &c. On the Sabbath evening previous, a densely 



AMHERST IX THE VV AH— lS(;l-(i5. Ifi 

thronged iiieetiug was held at the Baptist church, Milford, 
the exercises of which were designed as a farewell to the 
company. The exercises were, the Reading of appropri- 
ate Scriptures by Rev. Mr. Pike, of Andierst ; Prayer, Rev. 
]\Ir. Ayer. ]\Iilford ; Singing of "Aniei'ica" : Addresses by 
Rev ]Mr. Horton. ]\liiford, and Rev. J. G. Davis, Andierst; 
Presentation of a copy of the New Testament to each mem- 
ber by Rev. jNIi. Horton ; Singing of the tune Dort ; Bene- 
diction by the Re / Mr. IMke. So intense was the interest 
in this farewell ceremony that hundreds were unable to gain 
admittance. 

The scene on the following 'I'uesday, at the leaving of the 
Company, deeply affecting, w;)s thus given in the Cabinet : 

••The occasion of the departure of the Company of Capt. 
(Jillis, from ]Milford, on Tuesday last, diew together a large 
crowd of fathers, mothei\s, brothers, sisters, wives, lovers and 
friends, to give the farewell, and the parting kiss. The 
Company was escorted to the Depot by the Amherst Engine 
Company, under direction of Capt. Hapgood, with music by 
the New-Boston Band, and were there addressed very appro- 
priately by Rev. Mr. Adams, of Wilton, assuring them of 
the sympathy, prayers and support of those they left behind, 
with words of kind farewell, which were very handsomely 
responded to by Mr. Xorman Bnrdick, a member of the 
Company, in its beiialf. The scenes that succeeded are re- 
corded on hearts that felt them, and are all too tender to be 
w^ritten elsewhere, — but they speak inost eloquently of the 
sacrifices that these young men are w illing to make for the 
honor and salvation of their country, and the perj^etuity of 
its free institutions. AVe accompanied the Volunteers as far 
as Manchester, and can assure their friends there was no 
flagging of spirit among them, as the deafening cheers they 
uave as thev left us fullv testified. 



10 AMHERST IX THE WAR— 18()l-!io. 

"The Company, escort and Band dnied together at the 
Pearl-st. ; oiise, Nashua, the Company leaving for Concord 
at one o'clock, reaching Portsmouth same evening. 

"On the same train in which they went \^as the body of 
the New-IIampshire man ^vho fell at Baltimore, — Ladd, of 
Alexandria,— a member of the Lowell company." 

( a,pt, Gillis' fine Company, in which our first men enlist- 
ed, was stationed at Fort Constitution, the First Regiment 
being full ; and at the formation of the Second Regiment at 
Portsmouth, none being accepted for less than three years, 
those who refused to enlist for that time were mnstered out 
and returned home. Only two Amherst men were with this 
Regiment, William W. Sawtelle, the first to die in the ser- 
vice, and John M. Fox, who "still lives" to glory in the Stars 
and Stripes he nobly fought to rescue. By reference to fu- 
ture pages, however, it will be seen that all but t\\o of the 
three months' men of Amherst re-enlisted, and engaged in 
actual service, while half their names are emblazoned upon 
our Monument as sons who nobly died in our defense ! 

FIRST OFPICIAL ACTION OF THE TOWN. 

The first action of the Town, in an official capacity, to 
provide for the M'ar, was (as before mentioned,) at a special 
meeting, called at request of the Citizens' Finance Commit- 
tee, June 1st, at which $2000 were voted to meet the calls 
of that Committee, and the Committee instructed to furnish 
all needed assistance to the families of all enlisted, or who 
should enlist from this town, while said enlisted men were 
in service. 

October 10th, at a Town meeting called at request of the 
Citizen's Committee, after accepting the report of that com- 
mittee, the Town re-affirmed the votes passed at its previ- 



AMIIKKST IX TIIK WA II — isiil -(;:,. 



17 



ous iiieeliiii;-, and ])lac'e(l itself 8(iuai'ely dii a war footiiin' l>v 
])!l^tin4 the whole matter of pi'ovidiiii; foi- its Soldiers, and 
tlieii' families, into tlie hands of its executive oflficers. 

Ol K FIKsr \()?.rNTp:EK 

TIk- Fii-st Xew-Ham})shire Regiment, composed of thi-ee 
mit'.itlis* men. left the State Mav "iotli. and with it tlie first 




Volunteer from Amherst, George Vose, he having enlist- 
ed at Nashua, previous to our first citizens' meeting. 



fFuly Jrtli, the Cabinet rang out the following appeal : 

IxDEPEXDENCE ! — The glorious old Fourth has dawned 
upon us again, never so welcome, never so loved I Because 



1^ A.MIIEIJST IX THE W A U— 1801 -(if). 

\vp can do oiir readers do hetter sei'vice, we give them to-day 
the noble Declaiatioii of our Fathers, l)\ which T^ibevty was 
secured, and by theiu be(iueathed to us. Ts there one among 
you all, who, as he I'eads its glow'ing words, can find it in 
his fieart to withhold his support from his country in tliis 
her hour of need, — one who does not feel burning within him 
a righteous imlignation against tliose who would tread iis 
honor in the dust, and trample upon its glorious Star-spang- 
led banner, we only need to know your r.ame, and no trace 
of it should ever again appear upon the list of our friends, 
unless V)acked with an oath of allegiance, and record of the 
deepest repentance. 

This glorious old Independence day ! we always loxed it. 
It has ever come to us like a bo^v of promise ; and, now the 
cloud has gathered in the heavens, and the storm rages o'er 
us, the bow of promise, richer, brighter, moi'e beautiful than 
ever before, stands out in glorious relief, mingling its "red, 
white and blue"with.the brillia)icy of thousand-fold inspira- 
tion. All hail, thou day of our Nation's birth ! Cheered by 
thy fair, auspicious dawning, patriotism, loyalty, and every 
grace, shall hasten to lay its offering on the altar of Liberty, 
— while ti'aitorous hands shall falter, and traitorous hearts 
shall fail and confusion cover the enemy as with a garment \ 

"All liail tliou o;l(ii'ious natal nioiii, 
"Big with the liopes of bliss !"' 

All hail the glorious old lnde]ieridence ! 
All hail the beautiful Stai-s and Stripes ! 
All hail the noble Union I 
All hail every loyal heart ! 
"Confusion, worse confounded,'' to every heart that does 
not heartily respond. 
All hail to the Glorious Fot kth !" 



duly 19, the Cdhiiiet announced : — -The Volunteers from 
this vicinity who have been stationed at Fort Constitution, 
who declined the three years' service, were fully discharged 
last week, and returned home on Saturday. Warren Rus- 
sell left Monday for the seat of war, having enlisted in the 
Band of the ^Nlass. Seventh, which left Taunton last week." 



r AMIIEKST IX rilE WAR-lS(n-().-). 19 

Tlie call for :]00,00() three-years' men. in July, roused the 
land to a teri'ible conviction of the greatness of the striii;- 
.gle, and enlistment \vent rapidly on. The Thiixl N. II. 
Kegiment, ;it Concord, and the Fourth, at Manchestei-, bas- 
ed on the surplus of the Third, were soon ready for the field ; 
and in one month after the Fourth was organized, the Fifth 
was enlisted and mustered into service at Concord, (Oct 2().) 
Our then patriotic and worthy townsman, Charles E. Hap- 
good, was appointed a Recruiting officer for this Regiment, 
and enlisted here a fine company, from this and the neigh- 
l>oring towns, who wei'e mustered in as ''Co. 1." 

8ept, 2(1, the ('ahhtet made the following announcement; 

''We are happy to learn that Charles E. Hapgood, Escp, 
of the firm of llapgood ^ Abbot, of this i^lace, has been ap- 
pointed by the autiiorities of the State, Captain of the Com- 
pany to be formed in this County for the Fifth Regiment. 
It is an appointment eminently fit to be made. Captain 
Hapgood is a soldier yj»ey.sv>, with all the qualities in-born and 
acquired to tit him for the station he is to occupy. Of com- 
manding form, stentorian voice, of excellent judgment, tho- 
roughly skilled in military tactics, and, withal, one of those 
(jood hearts sure to win the lov^e of his men, by making their 
every want and care his own, he will, we feel assured, win 
for himself, his Conqiany, the Fifth, and the State, laurels 
in the service to which he is called. We thank the authori- 
ties for the appointment, and stand sponsor for the result, 
with no Utile pride, that we are able to afford for the posi- 
tion and the crisis, so worthy and efficient an officer. Heav- 
en's blessing attend him !" 

And it did ! and his record of service w'ith this Company 
and Regiment, through the war, is one most honorable to 
himself and to the town he represented ; for which he will 
ever be held in grateful remembrance. The record of Co. I 
is alike honorable. No men did better service than those of 
Old Amherst ! {See Closmg Slelches.) 



20 



AMIIKHST r\ TIIK \\\\ H—lsiil-iU!. 



'I iif ('(ihhict ill its isj^iie of N()\eiiil)ei' 1. iiiadc tlif lollciw- 
iii!4 ;iiiii()iiiic(Mii<Mit, that cast a sadness over all iit^arts : 

illK Kilts r VICTIM. 

"It is our sad <liity to-day to auiioiiii'*e the tirst death 
aiiioiii^ the volunteers from tliis place ^Ir. AV in. ^^'ate^nlall 
Saw telle died at the Washington II(-s]tital. on Friday last. 




WM. WATERMAN SAWTELLE, 

He ^vas one of the three months' men who went to l-'ort Con- 
stitution, and sul>se(juently enlisted in tiie X. II. Second, 
under Ca|»t. Weston. He was at the hattle of Hull Hun, 
and bore himself bravely in tliickest of the tight, of which, 
soon after, he gave our readers his impi'essions. He return- 
ed to Washington, greatly exhausted, ami has since suffered 
from typhoid fever, fever and ague, and a com]»licatioii of 
diseases, which has carried him to tlie grave. He was a 
voiing man of hiuh nnn-al worth, a member of the Conu're- 



a:mhkijs r ix tiik wak— isci-.-), -ji 

•national C'hurcli in this jtlacv, and liis decease has east a 
<]<'e|) sadness over the entire cii'cle of his acciuaintauce. Al- 
thougl) not on the battle-fiehl, he has died in the service of 
country, and will be remembered as our first sacrifice for the 
salvation of our olorious Union, for which he assured the 
writer he was willing;- to die, his parting words being — ''J.tt 
me return heariiuj tlie Old FUkj. or irr^pped in it /" 

The following letter ai)})eared in the C'ahinet, Nov, Sth : 

Camp Txion, Bladknsbuiu;. Oct. "ii), ISIU. 
J'Jditor of the Cabinet . 

Dear Sir : — You have, without doubt, ere this, been ap- 
prised of the death of your fellow-townsman, Wm. Water- 
man Sawtelle ; yet, as his was no ordinary death scene, I 
cannot refi'ain from penning a few lines in connection with 
it. He had long been ill, and had borne his sufferings w ith 
Christian patience and fortitude, leaning with humble trust 
and faith ui)on His strength who has promised to be our 
Saviour. 

Friday, the 'ioth. he seemed to be gaining, and unusually 
cheerful in anticipation of removal to his home ; remarl-cing 
to the mati-on. Mrs. ^iarden. that he should return to his 
home, but find no mother there. About 7 p. m.. he became 
worse. The matrons, by kind woids. vainly endeavored to 
recall his wandering senses, and about: 0. his breath l)ecame 
short, and he gently passed a\^ay. 

Thus ended a life all free from reproach, mourned deeply 
by comrades and a large circle of fi-iends, Sunday he was 
buried near the encam})ment with due honors. 

E. XoiniAx GuNNisox. Co. I, 2d Rt. N. H. V. 
i^See (Vosi)i(j Sketches.^ 

THE St)Ll IKRS' THANKSGIVING AND OUKS. 

Xovember '2Hh. the ( 'ahinet presumingiy said : — -The 
Amherst boys of the 5th Regiment will have a fine Thanks- 
giving dinner, made u]) of Koast Turkey, Roast Pig. Chick- 
en, Boiled Ham. Plum Punding, Pies, and an endless varie- 
ty, forwarded l)y their friends from this place. — enough to 
feast half the Regiment. This is as it should be.'' 



•2? AMHEUST IX THE WAK-lst5.- ^:,. 

And the boys, themselves, alike presumiugly, had |)lan- 
ned for a good ^iiiie,with Oysters at 1 p. m., ^^'l•estlill,^ at 2, 
Jimipiii^- at 8, Ruiiniug at 4, Greased Pig at .") ! Ihit how 
micertain and falhicions oft provtd thewisrst ])]ans of those 
early days is well shown in the result, for that Thanksgiv- 
ing found "the boys" hurriedly '"marciiing on" to Alexan- 
dria, and feeding on Soldiers' rations ! while the home gen- 
erous supply of "pig and pie" was nearly all lost to tliem 
through dfclay. But it told them of vvai'm hearts at home. 

The following was the cheerful Pi-oclan;ation of the old 
Cahinet to its readers : 

Kind reader — that glorious old festival of savory turkies, 
pumpkin pies, plum puddings, and of swelling hearts, has 
again come, and g^-eets us with the most reasonable of all 
commands, "fte ye tlianlcfnl .'" How can Me be otherwise, 
seeing we have so many, and such mercies, to be thankful 
for? Though ^Var is^ in our land, most of our readers may 
possess their homes and souls in peace and patience if they 
will, with plenty for the one and abundance of grace for the 
other. Heaven's smile is on the other side of the cloud, and 
everywhere is peeping through, bidding us trust, and to be 
thdnkfuJ. This is our proclamation to you, dear reader, be 
THANKFUL, — heartil} tnankful, — and receive the kind bless- 
ings that crowd your pathway to-day in the spirit of love 
and cheerfulness in which they are dispensed. It is the v^ery 
height of ingratitude to be dovs^ncast and sullen when under 
the cloud. It cannot be always day, nor always June. The 
Summer must have its tempests, the ocean its storms, the 
prairie its fires, the body its diseases, the heart its sorrows, 
— and history rnd inspiration alike teach that war "needs 
be." These all serve their end in the Divine economy; and 
it l)ecomes us to meet them all in firm reliance upon that 
Wisdom that directs all, and does not overlook the falling 
s})arrow. Grateful for our manifold blessings, grateful for 
every rift in the cloud, grateful for the beautiful "/>o?t' of 
promise''' I'eflected sweetly in the "red, white and blue," we 
bid you all be of good cheer, — with the assurance of return- 
ing Peace and a perpetuated and happy Union !" 



AMIIEKST IX THE WAU— isci-f;:,. 1)8 

Dec. lo, the boys of Co T. repoi'ted thi"oiig]i the ('oh'uK^t: 
■'At last the lono- looked-for box has come, and riglit wel- 
c(^nie is it in our little, well-tilled parlor, and such a rnsh to 
see its contents ! Thev vvei'e in much better condition than 
we expected, after 19 days travel. The meats were s])oiled, 
but the other articles were good. We talk of burying the 
pig under arms !" 

The Cabinet correspondent of the Fourth, at Hilton Head, 

reported the following as its Thanksgiving menu — 

"Roast Beef, Turkey, Duck. Lamb; stewed Chicken; Fish 
Chowder ; Fresh Fish ; Oysters ; Reef Soup ; Beef Tongues 
and Liver ; Potatoes, sweet and Irish ; onions, carrots, beets 
turnips, tomatoes, cauliflower, pickles ; warm biscuit, hard 
bread, doughnuts, cracker })udding ; butter ; cheese ; with 
tea and coffee." 



Li the midst of this thanksgiving came the sad news of 
the decease of another of oui- valued young men in the ranks 
abroad, Frank M Holt, son of Edwin M. Holt, of small 
pox, at the Kalorama Hospital, near (reorgetown. He was 
one of our three montlis' volunteers, subequently re-enlist- 
ing in the 47th Penn., and winning for himself a most hon- 
orable I'ecord. {See ('losi/u/ Sl'efches.) 

Closely following came news of the decease of James W. 
Patterson, of the 4th N. H., of rheumatic fever, on board 
steamer Baltic, off Fortess Monroe, where he was buried, by 
a boat's crew of comrades from the Baltic. 

While the Cahinef of December 2()th brought the sad an- 
nouncement fi'om the Fourth, at Port Royal, of the death 
of another of our noble young volunteers, mexry S. Ober. 
Holt and Ober enlisted from contiguous School districts at 
the south of the town, and the news of their decease cast a 
heavy sadness over all the others. {See Closiin/ Skefehes.) 



24 AMITKKST TX TIFK WaH— lS(n-(i5. 



\\()Jnv OF THE LAIUKS. 

Thus iniicli for the doings of tlie men of old Anihei'st in 
the initial year of the war. and war's dealings with our sol- 
diers. The record of our patriotic niothei's and daughters 
deserve honorable mention in this resume, for the noble 
manner in which they "stood by the stuff." 

Promptly at the call of the Citizens' Committee. April 
29th, did old and young, maids and maidens, cheerfully re- 
spond, and commence a woik of love for the brave Soldier- 
boys in which they never flagged so long as there was a sol- 
dier in the service, or sufferer in the hospital needing their 
aid In Septeml)er, for the better systematizing of their la 
bors, an etficient Soldiers' Aid Society was formed, with the 
followino; 

CONSTITUTION. 

1. This Society shall be called — The Soldiers' Aid and 
Home Relief. 

2. The Officers shall consist of President, Secretary, Treasu- 
rer, aud seven Directors. 

3- The President shall preside at all meetings, and when ab- 
sent that duty shall devolve upon one of the Directors. 

4. The Directors shall have the general management of the af- 
fairs of the Society, and appropriate its funds, subject to approval. 

5. The Secretary shall attend to all correspondence, and keep 
a record of the proceedings of each meeting. 

6. The Treasurer shall collect assessments and dues, keep the 
accounts, and render to the Society, at any specified time, a state- 
ment of the finances. 

7- Any person may become a member by paying the sum of 
wenty-five cencs. 

8. Meetings may be held as often as the Officers shall direct, 
and every one in attendance is expected to contribute not less 
three cents at each meeting. 

9. The object of the Society shall be the benefit of the loyal 
Soldiers and the home poor. Donors to have the privilege of 
designating preference in their contributions. 

10. Any member of the Board of Officers may withdraw from 



A]\IHERST IX THE WAR-ISO. -O.-). 25 

her office l)y giving notice to the Secretary. In such case, the re- 
maining officers shall fill such vacancies. 

II. Any article of this Constitution (excepting the 9th,) may 
he altered or amended by two-thirds' vote at any regular meeting. 

(SKiNED) Mrs. R. H. Clark ; R. Knight ; C. H. Campbell ; I. 
M'Kean ; David Stewart ; G. W. Moor ; E. S. Cutter; J. G. Davis 
Rebecca Conant ; J. W Pilisbury ; Peter Carlton ; Harrison Eaton 
B. B. David; — Towne; Robt. Benden : Martha Satchwill ; John 
Eollansbee ; E. S. Gutterson ; Geo. E. Boutell ; Cyrus Eastman ; 
(ieo. A. MeCluer; — Merchant ; E. D. Boylston ; A. A. Kotch ; 
Frank Russell; Francis Wright; Mary Boylston; Lemuel Bissell 
L. \V Nichols ; Aaron Lawrence ; James U Prince ; Oliver Car- 
ter ; Elijah Putnam ; E. Page ; S. B. Melendy ; Luther Melendy ; 
F. M. Hills : Jotham Hartshorn ; Frank Hartshorn ; Loea Pratt; 
Andrew Burnham ; Wm. Clark : J. F. Osgood ; Peter W. Jones ; 
H. E. Abbott; — Peaslee ; J. O. Pulsifer. 

Misses H. Carlton ; Emily R. i'owne ; Mary Adams; Josephine 
Shattuck ; Ann Koby; Sophia Phelps ; Elizabeth Uavid ; Maria 
Towne; Lizzie Wilkins; Annie Wilkins ; Lucy W. Clark ; L. B. 
Elliott ; Mary C. B. Boylston ; Catherine M. Boylston ; Lucy F. 
Boylston ; S. Lu Lawrence ; H. J. Nutt; Mary Nutt ; Almy Win- 
chester ; M. J. Barrett ; Mary Stewart. 

The Officers elected were, Mrs. David Stewart, President ; 
jNlrs. Harrison Eaton, Secretary ; Mrs. Charles H. Campbell. 
Treasurer ; Mrs. Luther Nichols, J, ^\\ Pilisbury, E. S. Gut- 
terson, Robert Benden, (4eorge E. Boutell, Alisses Emily 
Towne, Mary Xutt, Directors. 

The young ladies of the place, with much enterprise and 
patriotism, inaugurated and successfully carried through, a 
beautiful Christmas festival, for the purpose of furnishing 
funds for the Soldiers' Aid Society, in which were given, in 
tableaux, with much effect by aid of colored fire, scenes pa.st 
and anticipated in the Rebellion, Washington's Dream of 
Liberty, and other beautiful acts ; and also an elegant tree 
that bore rich fruit for the brave Boys in Blue. It largely 
owed its brilliancy and success to the taste and zeal of Miss 
Harriet J. Nutt. 



20 AM H K H ST 1 N TI I K W A II —1 8(1 , -'M. 

And now tor the lessons ot tliis closing year, sad and (jtli- 
ervvise, as then drawn : 

"With what terrible lessons the yeai* closing' is tVanght ! 
lessons of the realities of life and death in their most stern 
and terrible aspects — lessons we dare not, will not repeat. 
Snfficient for their great purpose is it, that in sulxlned si- 
lence they be received, and that they should V)e pondered in 
the solitude of stricken hearts. 

A compensating lesson of the year is this : man's destiny 
IS NOT WHOLLY HIS OWN. (lod is His own interpreter, and 
to-day we read ''it is not in man that walketh to direct his 
steps," with a conviction of its truth never before realized. 
Ah, could the loyal men of the North have "directed theii- 
steps, think ye they would to-day l>een contending with their 
lii-others on the deadly field of strife ? (iod's hand is seen 
in history — and man's destiny is at His disposal. Slavery is 
unwittingly recording its destiny — mene, fekel, upharsln"' is 
read upon its every wall ! 

Another of its lessons is — 'Theke 's ^"OT^ING tkie btt 
Heaven." Man disappoints ; God never I "'All ([uiet on 
the Potomac" — instead of "^Marching on !" The Israelities 
were forty years in the Mdlderness — but they roN(juKJ'Ki> ! 
and so shall we ! In God we trttst ! 








Thp: opening of 18H2 gave but inadequate portent of what 
it would reveal of carnage, gloom and sorrow that was to 
mark and mar its progress and its close. Yet. while thus 
overshadowed Ly the heavy war-cloud, all hearts turned to 
the Great Helper, and, trustingly, did with might the work 
their hands found to do ; and, with eight N. H. Kegiments 
in the service, and the Ninth called, all containing Amherst 
men, there was no lack of work for all. The following, from 
the Cabinet, shows how, and how cheerfully, the ''Soldiers' 
Aid" worked in the home field : — 

"Mr-, Editor — Perniit me through your columns to speak 
a word in praise of the patriotism of the I^adies of old Am- 
herst. Ever mindful of their duty to their country, they 
have for some time been busily engaged in caring for the 
wants of our patriotic soldiers. From week to week they 
meet together from place to place in the village, and spend 
their time profitably for the wants of the poor soldier. Pmt 
occasionally Lhey take a sled ride of some two or three miles 
from the village. Last night, with a number of gentlemen, 
they took a sled-ride, behind two patriotic horses, to the res- 
idence of Josiah W. Pillsbury, Esq., wdiere they were cordi- 



28 AMHP:RST IX THE AVAR-lSOl-fJo. 

ally received, and busily and handsomely entertained ; re- 
turning seasonably and safely, — the third sled-ride. It is 
hard excelling the Ladies of old Amherst in patriotism, le- 
vees or sled-rides! Respectfully submitted - 

One of the Lojini Sfed-ride Part//. 

The C'dhinef, in its ever hopeful, trustful spirit, sought in 
its Xew Year's Greeting, to inspire its readers at home and 
abroad, with humble trust in God and duty — thus: 

A Happy New Year, a Happy New Year 
To friends afar off, and home friends dear — 
To you who are sitting by the home's bright fire, 
And wishing the wanderers were to it nigher, 
Ere 'other Winter's fires shall burn, 
May you be cheered by their safe retutn. 
>Sure happy the year will be. and more, 
That brings the soldier-boys home from the war ! 

And ye brave sons from home far away, 

Engaged iu the deadly strife and fray. 

Doing and daring the Union to save. 

Digging for Rebellion and traitors a grave, — 

Do, dare, and dig on, and to the wide world show 

How dearly ye prize the blessings we know. 

Fight on, and Heaven's banner shall o'er you wave. 

Heaven's arm be o'er you to rescue and save. 

To give you victory o'er treason and wrong, 

The foe's arm to break, and to make yours strong, 

And whiie-winged Peace in the Land re-appear. 

And you in your homes this Happy New Year. 

Ye men of the North "by the stuff" called to stay 
While Rebellion your brothers go forth to allay, 
Be loyal and true to your Country, and trust, 
The dear Old Flag, that they 've trod in the dust. 
Vow, (and fail not your vowing to pay,) 
That you and your all on her altar shall lay, 
Ere the Flag of the Union shall cease to be 
Proudly waving over land and the sea. 
Be prudent, be earnest, be trusting and brave ; 
Be prayerful, for Heaven alone can save ; 
Be humble, and fleaven your prayer shall hear. 
And make this truly a Hapyy New Year ! 



AMHERST IX THE WAR— ISO 1 -()-■). 2.9 

Ye mothers and dau2:hter.s, always lovlnp-, and true 
To the calls of duty — there's duty for you. 
Vour good work continue, nor let a brave son 
Have aught to complain when his warring is done. 
Sew, knit, pray for the brave boys abroad, — 
You surely shall know recompense of reward. 
Kind Heaven, delighted, shall look down in love — 
'I'he soldier-boys ]:)less you, looking above, — 
ijn the roll of honor your names appear 
When Peace shall return, this Happy New Year ! 

Father in Heaven — hallowed be Thy name ! 
'I'hy will done in Heaven and on Earth the same ; 
Foreive us our debts as we debtors forgfive ; 
And let us in peace with all the world live. 
Spare, spare the Old Flag, the Flag of the Free ; 
Spare, spare our proud Union, Earth's glory to be ! 
May monarch, enslaved. King and oppressor, 
Look in pride to Columbia and say, '■d'od hh^ss her .'' 
For Thine is the kingdom, and Thine the power. 
And Thine the glory from this very hour. K. D. K. 

The year, opening' with inspiring victories of the Loyal 
forces in the extreme South, made the people of the North 
by far too hopeful and sanguine of an early close of the war, 
tlie writer of the above among the rest. "Norm." the sharp- 
eyed correspondent of the Cabinet (E. Norman (iunnison, of 
the 2d N. H.,) well gave its readers tlietrue status of affairs 
at this period of the struggle. In his letter from Camp 
Beaufort, in early Marcli, he wrote : 

"Our cause is the cause of right, and we must triumph, — 

"For right is right, since God is God, 

"And right shall surely win ; 
"To doubt would be disloyalty, 

"To falter would be sin." 

And so we shall march on, sonietimes weary, sometimes per- 
haps defeated, hut never dispirited. Our friends m the 
North are too sanguine in their expectations of an early clos- 
ing of this war ; they see things as but "through a glass, 
darkly,'* and are apt to underrate the )"esources of the South. 



M) A.MIIEKST 1\ TilE »VAK— 18i)l- >.-). 

\\\\ t'l'oin oui- 8tuiid-i»oiiit, see things in a far dirt'ereiit light. 
For years llie h.itred, and ambition, and covert treaso.i ot 
j'urty leaders, have been at work, nipking the so-called Con- 
ledei'ate btates a vast store-house, and the niuniiions of war 
thus collected cannot so easily be exhausted. 'Ihe belief en- 
tertained by so many that we could stai"ve the traitors from 
their sti'ong holds, has i>roved itself an utter fallacy, and the 
blindest ha\e, at last, opened their eyes to the fact, that the 
(»nly successful coui"se ot tieatment for our sick men of the 
South, lies in the admii.istering of iron [)ills and cohi steel, 
not in houioepalhic doses, but in allopathic, that shall sur- 
prise the so-called Sunny South !" 

'I'hus it proved, and was made apparent by the call, early 
in May, for another Regiment from New-Hampshire, the U{\\. 
I'leviously the (iovernment had prohibited further enlist- 
ments, and the people led thereby to feel that no more men 
would be needed. Consequently enlistments lagged. The 
state of things at home may be learned pi'etty clearly from 
tiie following spicy precautions of the Cabinet : 

••Look out for UattlesnakKvS ! As the warm ides ot" 
JMarch approach, these venemous reptiles are coming out of 
their hidings. Look out for them ! 

If you hear men condemning the War as needless, and 
rejoicing at every failure of our arms, — Look out for rattle- 
snakes ! 

Jf you hear any berating the Administration, denouncing 
the Government as oppressive, — Look out for rattlesnakes ! 

If you hear men whining about coming taxes and the aw- 
ful expenses of the War, — Look out for rattlesnakes ! 

If you hear men expressing more sympathy for the ac- 
cursed system of Slavery, (which has brought upon us this 
direful war,) than tor the glorious Union, — Look out for 
rattlesnakes ! 

If you hear men (or women) wishing ill to the l)rave sol- 
diers who are tighting to save the best Government the worhl 
ever saw, — Look out for rattlesnakes ! 

If you hear of men willing to offer aid and comfort to the 
enemy by political shuttling for position and power, — Look 
out for rattlesnakes !" 



A M 11 1-: I { SI' I y T 1 1 K \y \ w — i so i -h.-). 3 1 

'Ihe (lloiious Foiii'th was observed with iinicli spirit and 
eiithusia.sin by the Sal)batli School, a procession being form- 
ed at the Congregational Church, and iindei" escort of the 
Yankee Engine Co. and the ]^.'e^^ l^oston l^rass Band march- 
ed ai'onnd and saluted our beautiful flag with three rousing 
cheers. At the (Jrove the Star S]»angled I»anner was snng 
by the children, with patriotic addresses. In the evening 
the patriotic voung ladies gave a splendid entertainment to 
meet the expenses of the day, thus recorded in the Cahirnf : 

The "Kntertaininent consisted of Tableaux, Music by the liand 
and Quartette, consisting of Messrs. W. A. Mack and P]d\vard I'. 
Sawtelle, Mrs. H. E. A1)bottand Miss buc}' David. The tableaux 
were arranged in fine taste by Miss Hattie Nutt, far surpassint; 
any here before seen. The Pleiades, the Fire Worshipers, and 
patriotic finale, embracing forty characters, representing the sis- 
tei'hood of States, were beautiful, the last pre-eminently so— and 
but for a needless panic, the affair would have been faultless. It 
was caused by the explosion of one of the colored lights and over- 
turning of two kerosene foot-lamps, causing a suffocating smoke. 
Not a curtain, dress, or hair of a head scorched, but a scene, not 
in the programme, presented, beautifullv emblematic of the state 
and future of the Union — enveloped in fire, and smoke, and dire 
alarm ; but from the midst of which, in Ciod's time, it shall come 
forth in safety, — not a sister lost ! 

Old UNroN ! Old Union ! thoii2;h enveloped in tire, 
And smnke-clonds, rising; lii£;her and higher. 
And alarm that changes joy to affright. 
Like flashings of red -fire in the night, — 
Unscathed, like these emblems, in time shalt thou 
Stand forth in beauty as they do now — 
More bright, more beloved more pure aii'l more true, 
For the fiery ordeal thou hast passed through. 

The night hung lieavy over our heads as "Chantilly. "the 
'•Second Bull Hun." and "Rebels in Maryland," cast dark 
shadows over us. Enrollment of all citizens legally liable to 
the service w^as ordered as a base for drafting, and "300,000 
more" ordered by the Ei-esident to be forthcoming ! Fear 
was in every home and heart i The village puli>its spake 



.•52 AINIHERST IX THE WAR— 1861-05. 

out of duts ill the crisis, with no uiiCHrtain sou. id, — and die 
old Cabinet rang oat this earnest appeal : 
Enlist ! Exlist ! 

We have reached a terrible crisis in the history of our 
Nation — a point at which the fate of the nation and perp-- 
tuitv of our (Tovernment, depend upon the promptness and 
eiiicieiicy with which the loyal people of rhe North and West 
respond to the calls of the Executive. While we have ta ne- 
ly pursu'd our enemy, and quietly s^en our forces ranidiy 
depleted to a half or less of the working men, conscription, 
with a terrible energy and nidoniitable purpose, has arraye I 
apainst us a murderous host, that threatens our weakene 1 
forces with a desolating overthrow, and our gloriou-i cause 
with further alarming reverses. The appeal is now ina le 
to every loyal man to come to the rescue. The crisis de- 
mands «c//ort .' ENLISTING, FIGHTING, iutsead of TALKlNCj! 

A letter before us, from an Officer in McClellan's army, 
says, "we want to-day'800,00() new men, instead of oO(),()0()."' 
Ail accounts corroborate this need. By the aid of the gun- 
boats only are our soldiers on the James River enabled to 
hold their position against fearful odds. The only hope is 
promjit reinforcement. Shall it be had? Shall our brave 
soldiers, who have for twelve months endured the toil of the 
battle-fields, have our sympathy and prompt assistanc:!, or, 
be left to be cut in pieces through our inaction and neglect? 
AVhat say ye? men of Amherst — ye citizens of old Hillsbo- 
rough, the home of Stark, McNeil, and Pierce, and Miller. 
Where is the spirit of that noble company that, like Jonah's 
oourd, sprang in a night, and started for Lexington when 
hearing of its blood-shed ? Where the spirit of those "201 
men " all but three of the voters of the town, who pledged 
themselves and their all to resist to the bitter end the early 
f oreio'u foe ? Is the danger less imminent, the object sought 
less desirable, the results of failure less deplorable and fatal 
to the hopes of Liberty? Interminalde war — civil strife that 
no child born shall see ended — must result from the failure 
to subdue this Rebellion ! 

Sons of patriotic sires, haste to the rescue ' It is a noble 
work to which you are called, for the hopes of human lil)er- 



AMIIK ;ST rX THE War— l861-()o, -.V) 

ty hang' upon the crisis! Slavei'v has forcedit upon us. ami 
if Slav^ery shall come forth in the ascendant, why sliall she 
not "call tiie roll of her l)03!idmen l)eneath the shade of 
Bunker Hill?" 

In tlie soul-stirring words of Gov. Pierpont, >ve would say ; 
'•This is the last contest our free institutions will have, if 
we put forth the strength of the nation, and punish Rebel- 
lion as it deserves. But, remember, that thei'e is but one 
time to put down the usurpers, and that is Ni;w ! We can- 
not fold our arms this year, and fight the next. We must 
conquer now, or, all is lost ! The contest is gigantic ! the 
result, the fi-eedom or enslavement of the nation ! Redeem- 
ed and disenthralled, America will rise in renewed strength 
and sublime proportions, — the joy and beauty of the wholn 
earth." 

The State bounty had increased fi-om .$10 to W^ Aug. 
loth the to>vn voted a bounty of fSOto residents of Amherst 
who should enlist under this call. Then by a bold, brave 
motion of Horace Clark, Esq., without one dissenting voice, 
raised it to $150 ; this, with the f HO from the State, $25 of 
the Government, and the $15 of advance pay, making $248. 

The letter of this vote was as follows : 

Voted, that the Town pay a bounty of $150 to those per- 
sons, residents of Amherst, who enlist and are mustered into 
the service of the United States, provided they be accepted 
as volunteers to fill the quota from this town, instead of by 
drafting — in pursuance of an order from the President of the 
United States, bearing date of Aug. -i, J 862, whereby it is 
provided that a draft of 800,000 be immediately called into 
service of the United States, to serve for nine months, un- 
less sooner discharged. And, also, that aid be extended as 
a bounty to the families of those who enlist for this period, 
in the same manner as to the families of those who have en- 
listed for three years, or during the war. 

August 23d, on motion of Horace Clark, Escp, the town 
voted unanimously to give the nine months' men, also, the 
$150 bounty, and the same pay to their families as to those 
enlistino' for the war. 



84 



AMU EH ST IX THE WAli— ISHl-Oo. 



The letter of the foregoing vote, and also the succeeding mo- 
tion to extend the bounty and aid thus offered, to the nine 
months' men and their families, are here given in honor of 
the noble-hearted townsman who offered them, — Horace- A. 
Clark, Es<],--a life-long Democrat, — since deceast-d. 




This meeting was adjourned to the 2!)th, when the Town 
voted that every recently enlisted man be authorized to act 
as a Recruiting Officer, the Town to pay the fees for all en- 
listments made. Voted, also, to invite Col. Stevens and Lt. 
Col. Bowers, of Nashua, to address the people of the Town, 
on the 29th. 



AMHERST IN THE W AR-lsdl-u:. :]:^ 

Tlie war feeling was iuteusp, and tlie ('(ih'nict on the 14tli 
again rang out its war cry, — thus : 

Fall in ! Fall in ! 

Fall in I and never let it be said that only by conscri[)tion 
could XewHanipshire be brought to do her part in sustain- 
ing the liberties whicli our Stark and Sullivan, Miller, Mc- 
Neil and Peirce, won and so nol)ly defended. 

Fall in! and compel the Government to withdraw its or- 
dei\s and show to the vvorld that you prize youi' privileges 
and liberties sufficiently to \'oluntariIy maintain them at 
any cost. 

Fall in ! and say to the Government that this unholy re- 
bellion must at once be crushed out, and that we are ready, 
and mean to do it. 

Fall in ! and say to our sons and brothers in the field that 
we are with them, to share tii.> dangers and toils of so no- 
ble a service. 

Fall in ! and share the honor of defending the Constitu- 
tion of the noblest (iovernment the world has ever seen. 

Fall ill ! and let posterity read your name upon the proud 
i"oll of honor. 

Fall in ! and the blessing of Heaven shall be with you, 
and the gratitude of a saved, redeemed land, shall rest upon 
you forever. 

Pending these movements of the Town, (Aug. 14th.) the 
citizens, upon whom the draft was blowing coldly, and on 
many with most unwelcome anticipations, held a meeting 
to remove, if possible, those anticipations. Rev. Wm. Claik 
first addressed the meeting in a most patriotic spirit, follow- 
ed by Aaron Lawrence, E. 1). Boylstoii and Perley Dodge, 
Es(p Major Angell, of the N. H. lOth, being present, was 
called out, and eloquently responded, urging the young men 
of Amherst to come forward and enlist in the glorious work 
of redeeming "Old Glory !" and nine young men responded 
to the call 

Aug, 20. The speakers invited for the adjourned meeting 



m 



AMHERST IX THE WAR— 18(31-05. 



being unal)le iv attend, furnished as substitutes Capt. Hap- 
good, of the 5th, and Lts. Bruce and Marden, and the ut- 
most enthusiasm prevailed. 

September 17th, the Cabinet \nside the pleasing announce- 
ment that Amherst was out of the draft. Nun)bei- ;)f quota 
86, number of enlistments 8P — all three years' men. 






HENRYS. HOLT. CHARLES A B. HALL. 

'■(See ClositKj Sketches.) 

September brought President Lincoln's Proclamation of 
prospective Emancipation, already too long delayed, fixing 
flanuary 1, 1863, for confiscation and freeing of the slaves 
of all persons then found in Rebellion against the Govern- 
ment. This caused great agitation, and set all the home 
rattlesnakes and copperheads to rattling and venemous use 
and abuse of tongue. That event was looked for with the 
deepest interest, as the only hope of a restored Union and 
permanent peace. 



A M II E IIST I N T HE W All— 1 8(31-65. 87 

Tn November, Dr. Francis P. Fitch, of Amherst, was ap- 
pointed a Special Coramisioner, in company with Hon. Ma- 
son D. Larkin, to visit the Soldiers of this State in all the 
Hospitals in ^laryland, Yiri^inia and the District of CoUim- 
bia, including those upon the route, and report to tlip Gov- 
ernor tlieir conrlitiou ; wliich service he most faithfully and 
acceptably performed, and to the beneiit of the sick and the 
interests of the State. 

Tn May, Dr, John H. Clark, of this phace, was appointed 
Assistant Surgeon in the Navy, and assigned to, and left for 
New Orleans. He was first assigned to duty in the N. II. 
8th, as Assistant to Surgeon Deai-born, with whom and the 
boys and officers of the 8th, he was very popular. He was 
for two months or more at Fort Macomb, with several de- 
tached companies of the 8tli. 

The casualities of the year were many and very sad. Ear- 
ly June brought the intelligence of the death of Joseph F. 
Johnson, of Co. B. 8th N. H., of fever, at Ship Island ; and 
the same month returned Edson Davis and Charles Upton, 
discharged sick. July retired temporarily by sickness, Capt. 
Hapgood and Charlie Champney, and found Henry A. Nich- 
ols and George W. Parkhurst among the wounded. Septem- 
ber brought the sad word of the severe wounding of George 
Washington George, with the loss of a leg, and of the slight 
wounding of George Yose. Thanksgiving was darkened by 
the announcement of the decease, of dysentery, at Fairfax 
Seminary Hospital, of George Briggs Sloan,— and the clos- 
ing year by the wounding of Fay, both Yose brothers, Hall, 
Phelps and Brown. 

During the year 1862 the Ladies' Aid Society did a noble 
work, which can best be told by giving the report made at 
the close of the year : 



:];s AMHERST IK THE WAK— ISBl-f);', 



Abstract of Report. 
This Society was formed Sept 28, 1861, its object bding to aid 
the Soldiers in the Army with hospital clothing and otlier neces- 
saries not furnished by Army regulations. It has 76 members. 

Kec'd for membership $22 80 Articles sent to >anitary Co n'n : 
Net proceeds of levee 107 16 Oct. 1S61, box - - $^40 26 
Donations of individuals5i 95 Dec. 9, " - - 8546 

Col. at weekly meetings 4209 Sent to Individuals in army 844 
From social gatherings 2466 Box to Capt Hapgood 53 6S 

June 10, 1862 to San. Com. 80 64 

Total $248 56 I July 29, " " " 59 17 

Amount paid out 241 05 ; Sept. 5, " wine, jelly, &c. 570 

Sept. 26, " to San. Com. 102 22 



Halance in Treasury ^7 22 
iStock on hand including cloth I Total - $43587 

yarn, finished garments $53 

Every contribution has been duly received and acknowledged. 

An article in the Constitution provides that the home poor l)e 
cared for, and money and clothing have been furnished such to 
the amount ^18 75. 

The Society return their grateful acknowledgements to individ- 
uals in all parts of the town, who have so generously responded 
to our calls, in contributions of money and clothing. 

We have been very kindly assisted by having all our notices in- 
serted in the Cabinet free of e.xpense ; the hall has been fitted up 
and opened to us freely, and fuel furnished. .A.n aged lady, whose 
natural sight has been darkened, aided only by the light with 
which love and sympathy for the suffering ever illumine the soul, 
has contributed several pairs socks of her own knitting. 

We hear from reliable sources that clothing, hospital necessa- 
ries, &c., are much needed. Strong evidence comes to us of the 
need of continued effort May we not be "weary in well-doing,"' 
but continue to "cast our bread upon the waters," hoping that 
soon peace, with its untold blessings, will again visit our once 
happy land. 

L. A. Eaton, Secretary. 

Amherst, Dec. 11, 1862. A. R. Campbell, Treasurer. 

The Officers elected for the ensuing year were as follows : 
Mrs. Aaron Lawrence, President; Mrs. Harrison Eaton, Sec- 
retary ; Mrs. C. H, Campbell, Treasurer ; Mrs. D. Stewart, 
L. W. Nichols, Robt. Benden, Geo. W. Moore, and Misses 
Mary Nutt, Lucy Clark and Mary Stewart, Directors. 




The Third yeai' of the ^^'ar opened aiiii<l the deeepest of 
gkioiii, not only from tlie sad casualities that preceded and 
attended it, but from the hick of unanimity even here at the 
North in cheerful support of tl'e Government in contending 
for its existence. When the South was a unit, and its full 
strength conscripted to sustain its rotten cause, there were 
hosts of grumbler's at the North who should have been fight- 
ers, — and, too many of them here ! The war had assumed 
ijumense proportions. At this date. Lord Pahnerston, in 
the English House of Commons, said of it — "There is no in- 
stance in the history of the w^orld, I think, of a contest such 
as that which is now going on in America — a contest of such 
magnitude between different sections of the same people." 

It was apparent to all that the Union could only be sav- 
ed through the overthrow of Slavery, — and all loyal hearts 
gave thanks to (4od, as, at the opening of the year, Abraham 
Lincoln, true to his previous announcement, proclaimed lil)- 
erty to the captive and salvation to the Union ! The crisis 
had come — and the tableau of the local paper at the date of 
Lincoln's inauguration, ""Tjie Man for the Crisis !" had 



40 AMHERST IX THE WAR— 1861-65, 

become a triumph of history ! The Cabinet of January Stli 
thus liei'alcled the event : 

'•True to lionor, true to duty, true to the expectatiDUs of 
the friends of his Country, and, as we believe, to the lead- 
ings of a righteous Providence, on the morning of the new 
year, Abraham Lincobi, the noble President of our noble 
Union, issued his Proclamation of Emnncipation, wliicli we 
publish to-day, and wliich will be read with tlianksgiving to 
(iod, by all, at least, who with us believe and feel that a 
peaceful Union and Slavery are incouipatible, and that the 
oidy hope of the one lies in overthrow of the other. God 
HLE88 Abraham Lincoln!" 

Still strange as it may seem at this day, there were men 
in Amherst who covertly battled under that dirty Confed- 
ei-ate rag, rather than defend the Glorious Union of their 
faLhe)"s in this hour of its crisis ! Verily, they have their 
reward, and like the Tories of the Revolution, their names 
will ever be heard with contempt. 

How in contrast with this was the noble position of one 
of the noblest of our dead soldiers, — an alien by birth, but a 
noble son by adoption, — an Englishman, who enlisted from 
this place in the N. H. 7th. Writing to to his home from 
Hilton Head, Jan, 12, he says : 

"I believe I am fighting in a good cause. The North must 
come off victorious . I have no fears of that. Thousands 
have fallen and thousands more must, I think ; but it will 
prevail. I may not live to see it, but you will soon hear the 
cry for peace. It is always darkest just before day. Cheer 
up M . . . W'e shall soon see better days. This Government 
must stand. Who will not try and sustain it ? It is worth 
figliting for If I lose my life, I hope my child will be the 
better for it. I love my country, Old England, still ; and I 
would despise the man that did not love the land that gave 
him birth, I love wife and child as well as a man can love 
but if my commander would give me a furlough to-morrow 
I would not take it. When the war is over I want to see vou' 



AMIIKHST IN Tin: \V aK— isr.l-:;:). 



11 



],nt ,,,.t lill tlii'ii. This (iovpi-iiiiieiil ihmmIs my s.m-v'kn's :iii i 
iiK.iv thii.i you or AinhtMst ptM)])!^ do." ^^ m 1' i^v 

All honor to th ' na u • of Willia'ii Frw.— iiou ' ;iioiv ^no,-- 
{h\ 0:1 oiir roll ol honor. 




WILLIAM FEW. 
(See C/osiui^ Sketches,) 

January 1, l)rought the sad iie«vs of the death of Edward 
Vose, from wound received at Fredericsburg. and a suhse- 
([ueut leg amputation. 

The Ladies opened the year bravely, by a New Year's 
evening party, with a good time, lots of amusement and tlu- 
sum of thirty dollars drawn from a Union Stocking. to]»r(»- 
vide comforts for the Union Soldiers. The last wet-k in 



i'J AMHERST IX rill-: UAH— isiil^-d.-). 

Jamiary tliey forwarded a barrel of elolliiiig to the State 
Agent at Wasljingtoii. valued at fSl.OO and another to the- 
Sanitary Commission, valued at ^(JO.OO, 

These were trying and exciting days, and eager throngs 
ever crowded the post office at the honr of every mail. A 
draft was pending, I ut postponed 1>y the (lovernor, to give 
towns the chance to fill their <[U()tasbv enlistments. Fight- 
ing in the field, and griinihling by those who ought to have 
been in it, were I'ife, Every nuiil brought nev\s of sadness. 
All hearts quailed ])efore the crisis ! and only those who 
C()\dd see the Mighty Hand behind the war-cloud had hope ! 

'{'he middle of flanuary brought us news of the decease of 
Charles N. Parkhurst. of the lOth N, H., of typhoid fever, 
at Falmouth ; and, also, the death of John N. ^lace, of the 
same Keginient, of diptheria, at Washington. It also gave 
us and him the "welcome home" of the esteemed Lt. d. By- 
ron Fay, looking every inch a soldier, wounds included, fur- 
loughed for repairs : and word of the woitliy }'i( n otion of 
('apt. Ilapgood to Lt. Colonel of the -Ith N. II. 

FeV)ruary brought another hold and l)rave assault of the 
Ladies' Aid Society, on the evening of the *22d, in a Mascpier- 
ade, that lightened the heavy load we were bearing, and the 
])iirses of 'fTo for the boys abroad. That '2'2d was. indeed, a 
notable day. The day was honored with the ringing of the 
bells and a salute from the ••long-disputed" old field-piece, 
Avliich left it disru])tui-ed nioi-e deejyly than the Cnion, — hut 
like the L'nion, it ••still lives" : while two or more of those 
injured by this pieiuature explosion, died in a more real and 
helpful service. 

February also returned to his home, discharged for disa- 
bility from sickness, Eli S. (Jntterson. an excellent uKMnber 
of the lOth N. II. 

Closing March ivtnrned to our welcome Lt. (ieorge AV. 



AMHERST TX THE WAR— 18(11 -H.-). 4:i 

tle()f!j;H. ill mutilated form, from tlin hloody field of Aiitie- 
t;mi. defected 1 ut i.ot defeat* d I al:d.a]^o. on furlouj^li. jNIaj. 
Will. I). Stearns, of the 4tli. saddened by tlie decease of his 
wife two weeks pi'evious. and the burial of liis infant cliild 
but the day before his arrival I Sueh were tlie bitter expe- 
rieuces of those bitter days, other than those on the battle- 
field, for the wlncli those wlio shared them, livim;- and dead, 
shouhl be held in gi-ate^iil i-en>embrance. 

But nothim; more sad in all this long and saddening war 
than the word that mid A]>ril bi-ought. of the decease of th*" 
Uev. flames Means, at Xew'l)ern, X. C, on the Hth, and of an 
elder V)rother, Robert, at Beaufoi't. S. C. a week later. Al- 
though not directly from us, they wei'e of us. being natives 
of Amherst, and greatly endeare I to all our hearts. 

An early May issue of the Cahinet liad the following : 

X'^EwYouK, ^lay 11, ISHo. 
Editor Cahiitef — Lt. d. Byron Fay, of the oth N. H. Vols, 
was wounded in the knee, at the battle of Chancellorsville, 
on vSunday, May -3. The ball, a cast-iron one, about an inch 
in diameter, was taken out by the Regimental Surgeon. The 
wound is very painful, but with care he will recover entire- 
ly- He is now at my residence, Hoboken. N. J., doing well. 
It will be sixty days at least before he will be able to be on 
<luty again. Very Respectfully. 

Your obedient servant, A. H. King, 

"The many friends of Lt. Col. Hapgood will be rejoiced 
to learn of his w^onderful escape from danger, wdiile in the 
recent engagement, receiving a bullet in his Bible, directly 
over his heart — passing half through it. The Colonel knows 
the value of the Bible, and when and where to carry it. He 
has it hid not only over but in his heart, a source of manly 
strength and courage in the day of battle. He is spoken of 
in high terms, by his men, as a brave and accomplished offi- 
cer, and deserves great credit, for he has worked his way to 
his present position by merit, and in the face of the most 
marked opposition. 



4i 



AMllKlJSr l\ THE WAK — l SHI -(I.-. 



••('orporjil Frc^leiic A. ^^'ils()ll. <^1" the .")tli. rectMved a l>al! 
in his kna])sack for srtfe-kee|>iiiL;'. Bully for Fr^d I 

"l{()l)(i-t Few. of the Maine .Ith, also, had a iia'^rovv (^sca)>' 
ill the late Itattle. haviiiL;- his ^uii shot frojii his hand 

Lt. Fav was wciindi'<l while actinn as Aid to Col. Cross. 
Mho wast at the litne in eoinniand of the HriL;'a<le. and in 
ids )-e]>oi-t of tiie hattle made "honorable mention of the/eal 
and yood of>iidu(;t of Lt. J. B. Fay. of the .")th. wounded in 
cai'ryinn' oi-dei-s upon the tlehl : and. also, of Col. Ilap^ood. 
eommanding' the r)th. for consjiicuous hraverv. \"i^ilant and 
firm conduct." 

^^Mth later May came the sad announcement of tlie death 
of one of our nu^st woi"thy and valued youui; soldiers — (Jco. 
A. McClure — in camp, by the accidental dis(^hai"me of a i^nn 
in tlie hand of another niend^er of tiie com])any. 

The last of May brought an hitherto unknown measure of 
relief to the (Jovernmeut in these days of want and trial, in 
the appointment of Charles B Tuttle. Fs(| . one of our nu)st 
loyal and energetic ))usiness men. as Collector of the Income 
Tax assessed in this vicinity. 

The first of Jtine was nuide ominous l)v the a.p|)ointment 
of (lilbert Hills. Fscj.. Jailor and Sheriff, as Enrolling- Offi- 
cer for Amherst, and the prompt dischavg'e of the (bity as- 
signed to him. pre])arat(U-y to a draft. 

Early June, also brought tlie sad announcement of the 
fall of Lt. Col, Lull, of Milford, (killed in the battle al Fort 
Hudson,) so near and so closely allied to us that it seemed 
as though one of our own best men had fallen. 

rluly o])ened with victories. President's proclaim of con- 
gratulations to the loyal country, and thrilling accounts of 
the (rettysburg and Vicksburg triumphs, closely folk)wed by 
rumors of corning conscription, and the sickening, sadden- 
ing details of death and suffering of our own soldiers upon 
these fields of carnage. The l^Uh. confirmed the report of 



> 







5C 

CO' 



r 

GO. 









pi 




P 
P 



> 

PS 



AMHERST IN THE WAR — 1 SCI -<;:.. 4^ 

the fall of Charles H. Phelps and Charles A. Damon, on tli^^ 
field of Gettysburg, and tne wounding of Sergt, Frederic A. 
Wilson, a few days previous, and Edwin Benden of the Sth. 
(both froju the Cahinct office.) reported killed at Port Hud- 
son, as a prisoner and well. The 'J id brought the remains of 
Serg. Phel])s for se]iuitui'c. amid demonstrations of sorrow in 
Amherst as a generation had not witnessed — amid which, 
with crushing power, came the announcement of the deatii 
of the bi-ave Williaui Few. whos'^ remains, just one week 
later, with most impressive cereiiu^nies, were borne to an 
lionored grave, by a great throng of the people. These sad 
occasions will be noticed in detail in the Closing Sketches. 
A pretty scene, and one well-worthy of record of printer 
or [)ainter, was witnessed upon our beautiful Commtui. at 
noon on the 8th of July The beautiful Flag had been 
thrown to the breeze in the morning, iu houor of the great 
victories of the loyal armies, and. at the close of schools, the 
children formed in procession, and to the music of the drum 
marched to and encircled the Hag-staff, and after singing of 
"The Star Spangled Banner," gave it "three times three" 
that ought to have been heard away down in Dixie I Tt 
was a scene never to be forgotten, 

August opened more cheerfully, and the (5th was appoint- 
ed by the President as a National Thanksgiving for the re- 
cent victories, and enthusiastically observed. The occasion 
was most appropriately honored by the citizens of Amherst, 
as will be seen by the following communication which ap- 
peared in the Cabinet, from the pen of Rev. William Clark, 
than whom, and the pastor, the Rev. Josiah (t. Daviti. none 
were more loyal and patriotic both in woi'd and action : 

Mr. Boylston : — I think you and the congregation that has 
just returned from the public services of the day, will agree with 
me that we have had a "good time" in connexion with these serv- 
ices. It was delightful to see the evidence, furnished by the pres- 



AMiiK:{sr i\ rii!o war -is u- 



encea' d the earnest attention of the goodly, intelligent audience, 
of sympathy with the Proclamation of the' President of the Na- 
tion, and the response given it, for a day of thanksgiving, prayer 
and praise to Almighty (iod, throughout the Union, for the re- 
cent successes of our arms against the wicked and terrible rebel- 
lion now raging in the South. The occasion was impressive and 
inspiring. Looking over the audience, representing the patriotic 
Christian men and women of our town, assembled to render to 
the Supreme Ruler of the world their thanks for his merciful in- 
terposition in giving victory to our arms in so many recent dread- 
ful conflicts, our thoughts went out spontaneously to the congre- 
gations throughout all the loyal States, assembled at the same 
hour, for the same [ urpose that brought us together. In imagin- 
ation we could see thanksgiving, adoration, prayer and praise as- 
cending in one vast cloud of incense to the throne of Jehovah, 
from congregations of all denominations throughout all our vast 
loyal domains. In these sacred, delightful devotions, how impor- 
tant the services rendered by the Ministers of our holy religion. 
\Vho can estimate the value of their services to the national (Jov- 
ernment to-day, as the fearless and faithful defenders of our lib- 
erties, so assailed and endangered ? 

Such invaluable aid have we had to-day from our own minister. 
Rev. J. G. Davis, in a truly able and patriotic discourse, worthy 
the occasion, founded upon and in the true spirit of Ps. 98 : i — 
*'(), sing unto the Lord a new song, for he has done marvellous 
things ; his right hand and his holy arm hath gotten him the victo- 
ry." Using these words, he specified numerous particulars in this 
connection as occasion for and demanding our thankfulness and 
praise, — among these the spontaneous and simultaneous rallying 
in defense of the Government in all the loyal States, on the first 
decisive breaking out of the rebellion, — the readiness and prompt- 
ne.ss of hundreds of thousands the best young men in the North- 
ern and Eastern States, among them the choice young men in 
our colleges, in thus meeting the call of their country for her de- 
fense, — the recent victories at Vicksburg and at Port Hudson, by 
which the great Mississippi river is again open to commerce from 
its source to its mouth, — and the repulse of the Rebel army from 
the free soil of Pennsylvania, whose aim was the conquest of the 
Capitol of the Nation, — for the growing conviction and admis- 
sion of the equal rights of the black man, and the cheering pros- 
pect that Slavery, as one of the results of the rebellion, will be 
overthrown, — for the emphatic avowal of our President in his call 
for this observance of our utter dependance upon God for ulti- 
mate success and triumph. 

Mr. Davis, in concluding spoke feelingly of our great cause of 
gratitude to and for the noble Soldiers who are hazarding their 



AMIIKUS'I^ IX rilK WAR— lS(n-(;:,. 47 

lives for all that gives value to our lives. They have large claim 
on our sympathies, our kind attentions and benefactions 

To me the services of to-day have been a rich, intellectual, pa- 
triotic, Christian eutertainment. (Signed) W. C. 

Amherst. Augnst 6, 1863. 

At the close of tliis 'riiaiiksi;i\ iiii; sei-\ ice a collection \\ as 
taken for the benefit of the Soldieis through the Ch)'istiau 
Commissiou. and over !i^5!) realised. 

'riie (Ith Regiment (or wliat I'eniained of it.) having re- 
tnrned to Concoi'd, to escort the conscripts to the seat of war, 
our Thanksgiving was made more grateful by the presence 
of Lt. Col. Ilapgood. looking finely, though as his Regiment, 
essentially f/iiimcd by the terrible ordeals of ••Fair Oaks." 
••l*each Orchard," •'Savage Station." •'^^'hite Oak Svvani})," 
"Charles C'ity," ••^falvern Hill," Antietam," "Fredei-icks- 
l)nrg," '-Chancellorsville," and -'(Ibttysburg." 

Tlie oth Regiment, on its return was welcomed by a, per- 
fect ovation, and in response to a thrilling address of (iov- 
ernor (iilmore, \A. Col. Ilapgood, in command, said : 

-It is with the deepest emoiiou that 1 reply to your cor- 
dial welcome, in the name of the otli Regiment. It gives us 
pleasure to see so many friendly faces ; so many outstretch- 
ed hands. T\vo years ago we left, one thousand strong I 
bring you back tliis war-worn i-emnant. scarce enough for a 
company. AVe have tried to do our duty. Our tattered ban- 
ners show it. The roster of the dead is a long and glorious 
one Many officers have fallen ; others who occupied a more 
humble position fell with theii- faces to the foe. Honor 
them ! The Fifth will ever be true to the old Flag, whether 
against rel)els in the field, traitors at home, or wherever it 
may be called." 

Capt. A. E. Blunt, a former teacher of our High School. 
was warmly welcomed on the 2()th. and in an address, gave 
many incidents of his hard usage by the rebels in Tennessee 
and of his subsequent service in the 2d East Tenn. Reot. 



4s AM UK lis r IX rilK WAR — IS 11-;.',. 

August's closiii*;- week brought the news of two iiioi'e ot 
our \^aluii!i!e men fallen in the sTvioe — •^luiiel Co, "lis-; aii^l 
James lilauchanl. hotli of ( o. H. lOth X. II.. at ihe hos])i- 
tal iu Poi-ts uouch. \'a. ; th^. form t of li M'-t dis ^a-; \ lea\i.i; 
a wife and seven children ; tiie lattei- of di[)the!-ia. single. 

Septembei" brougiit the President's Proclanuitiou calling 
for "oOOjOOO morel" The (iovernment had learned the im- 
portant truth that final victoiy was only attainable by vigor- 
ctus "marching on !" Conscription promptly followed the 
call. Amhei'st's enrollment was llll. drawn oO, thi number 
needed to fill (pu)ta. 14. 

October "iOth, the Andierst conscripts went to Concord 
for examination. Many were exempted, and of those ac- 
cepted the follo^^ing• individuals fnrnislied substitutes with 
the 1300 the town had voted :— P. W. Dodge, C. li. Kinson, 
Andrew J. Kidder, Solomon Prince, James l*arkhurst. Dan- 
iel S. Trow, George Savage, Geo. K. Parker, Reuben Harri- 
don, Henry Parker, James C, Poutell, George Hanson. 

And, just as the Autumn tinged the forests in unison with 
the sadness of our hearts, a noble spirit, wdiose outer man, 
enfeebled by disease contracted in the service, had for months 
been decaying, went -'marching- on" to a higher and more 
noble service, — Lyman Beecher Sawtelle, — than whom, 
no soldier in the service, or conscripted by it for the "other 
shore/ was more beloved or v^orthy. {See Closing Sketches.) 

November found the "Fighting Fifth" ready for, and on 
to duty with its new Commander, Colonel Charles E. Hap- 
good, at its head, — of whom the Boston Journal said : 

"Lt. Chrles E. Hapgood, of the 5th N. H. Regiment was 
yesterday promoted to its Colonelcy. He is 38 years of age, 
a native of Shrewsbury, this State. Learning in youth the 
trade of a gunsmith, he was afterward an accountant in 
Worcester, and, in 1858, removed to Amherst, N. H., where 




CA ] . ( I : A in J S K. JJ AIGUUD. 



AMIIKUST IX Till-: WAH -IS H-i;.-) \) 

lie \vas engaged in mercantile business at the outbieak ot 
the rebellion. He enteiecl the army as C'aptain of Co. I, and 
was then the Junior Captain of the Regiment. After the 
battle of Fredei-icksburg he was comniissioned Lt. Colonel, 
and commanded the Kegiment in the V)attles of Chancellors 
ville and Cettysburg. In all positions he has proved him- 
self a superior officer. With full ranks, and superior com- 
manders, we shall expect good reports from the "Fighting 
Fifth." And didn't it get them ! 

The annual festival of Thanksgiving was observed with 
a zest which only a people can know who. burdened by a 
heavy war, see victory perching upon their banner. The 
people flocked to the Sanctuary, and rendered a tribute of 
heartfelt praise, while the pastor, Rev. J. (i. Davis, entering 
fully into the spirit of the occasion, furnished a rich intel- 
lectual treat, redolent with patriotism, based upon Ps. 1(17 : 
21-23— "Oh that men would praise the Lord, for his good- 
ness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men ; 
and let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and de- 
clare his works with rejoicing. Let them exalt him also in 
the congregation of the x:)eople, and praise him in the assem- 
bly of the elders." He drew^ a truthful picture of the great 
Rebellion and the war, the alternations of hope and fear by 
w Inch for long months the public mind had been exercised ; 
the brightening prospects of ultimate peace and union, in a 
strictly free land ; and closed by recounting the especial 
providential favors of the yeai- that called for devout grati- 
tude and praise. 

The following beautiful Hymn, written by Dr, Muhlen- 
burg, author of the immortal hymn, "I would not live al- 
way," a metrical version of the President's Thanksgiving 
Proclamation, and by his consent called "The President's 
Hymn," was sung here, and in hundreds of congregations 
and grateful circles througout the loval land : 



5(1 AMHERST IN THE WAR— 1861-65. 



The Presidsnt's Hymn. 

Give thanks, all ye people, sive thanks to the Lord, 
Allelujas of Freedom, with jovfiil accord • 
Let the Last and the West, North and South roll alonty. 
Sea, mountHin and prairie, one Thanksgivin'j; song 

CHORUS. 

Give tlianks, all ye people, give thanks to the Lord, 
Alielujas of Freedom, with joyful accord. 

For the sunshine and rainfall, enriching again 

Our acres in myriads with treasures of grain ; 

For the earth still unloading her manifold wealth, 

For the skies beaming vigor, the winds breathing health. 

For the nation's wide table, o'erflowingly spread, 
Where the many have feasted, and all have been fed ; 
With no bondage their God-given rights to enthral, 
l»ut [Jberty guarded by Justice for all. 

In the realms of the anvil, the loom, and the plow, 
Whose the mines and the fields, to Him gratefully bow ; 
His the flocks and the herds — sing ye hillsides and vales , 
On His ocean domains chant His nam > with the gales. 

Of commerce and traffic, ye princes, behold 

Vour riches from Him whose the silver and gold ; 

Happier children of labor, true lords of the soil. 

Bless the Great Master Workman, who blesseth your toil. 

Brave men of our forces, life-guard of our coasts, 
To your Leader be loyal, Jehovah of Hosts ; 
(jlow the Stripes and the Stars aye with victorv bright. 
Reflecting His glory; He crowneth the right ! 

Nor shall ye through our borders, ye stricken of heart, 
Only waiting your dead, in the joy have no part ; 
God's solace be yours, and for you there shall flow 
All that honor and sympathy's gifts can bestow. 

In the domes of Messiah, ye worshipping throngs. 
Solemn litanies mingle with jubilar^t songs ; 
The Ruler of Nations beseeching to spare, 
And our empire still keep the elect of His care. 

Our guilt and transgressions remember no more : 
Peace, Lord ! righteous peace, of Thy gift we implore ; 
And the banner of Union, restored by Thy hand. 
Be the banner of Freedom o'er all in the land. 



AMIIEHSr IX rilK WAR— lS(>l-()-). ni 

Almost amid tlie ecboiii^'s of these thanksgivings came a 
fearful conflagration, the largest and most frightful Amherst 
had ev^er witnesseil, iaping up barn, hotel, stores, shop and 
sJieds, and property, without mercy, and even glutting itself 
upon the beautiful town banner, and a large quantity of 
clothiug, prepared and donated for the Freedmen— and thus 
seeming as if in very league with the rebellion ! Those were 
trying, ominous days, and the people felt that, indeed, in 
more senses than one, th^y were passing a fiery ordeal. 

Xothing daunted, the young ladies of the town, emerging 
from this ordeal with patriotism unscorched, projected and 
carried out an elegant entertainuient of two evenings, at the 
Court Room, by the proceeds of which they re-placed the 
burnt flag by the beautiful one that now honors our service. 
The movement culminated in the formation of the "Banner 
Club," and a series of public lectures, which were a success. 

Thus closed the third year of this terrible, unnatural con- 
flict, bringing with it scarce a foreshadowing of the end of 
the struggle, but a "fearful looking for" of fraternal blood- 
shed. Seeming lack of plan and wisdom in the leadership 
of the loyal forces awakened evil forebodings at home, and 
alike discontent amid the forces in the field. The calls for 
aid had been enormous ; responses prompt and generous ; 
but the end seemed as far off as ever, — and the language of 
all hearts was, "O Lord, how long '" All eyes strained, and 
all hearts longed for some change that should be decisive. 

The Ladies' Aid Society made the following annual report : 

As our second year commenced, we were laboring under some 
discouragement. The high price of material to work with, com- 
bined with the low state of our funds, served to fill the minds of 
many with gloomy forebodings for the future. 

At this crisis in our history our young friends, (standing^a'Te- 
serve corps ) with their usual promptness and energy, immediate- 
ly flew to the rescue, by getting up a Masquerade party, by which 
a liberal sum was realised, which favor will ever be remembered. 



.")!> A M 1 1 K H S T 1 X T 1 1 E W A H — 1 S(l 1 -( i') . 

Th iuo;h the contributions are less than last year, perhaps it is 
no eviilenne that the z^al of our people has abated. When the 
t^rst loud wail of suffering; came to us from the battle-field, each 
one who had a suvpUis of clothing, or a blanket to spare, lost no 
time in brinjiins; them from their hiding places and startinsr them 
on their errand of fne'cy; while this year we have been obliged 
to make nearly all articles sent forward. 

Amount from last year's report - Mj 6o 

App aised value articles sent han. Com. i j;9 6o 
" " " State Ac Wash. 8i oo 

" " I'hila. Hospital 36 25 

" \ " Individual sol 25 00 

Since the Society was f rmed there have ])een sent forward 59 
quilts and comforters ; 245 cotton and flannel shirts ; 66 sheets; 
5 blankets ; 176 pr. socks ; 19 pillows ; 59 pillow cases : S3 cush- 
iois ; 21 dressin'Z gowns ; 102 towels ; 61 pr. drawers; I94hdkfs. 
39 pr. mittens ; 12 arm slings ; 25 bed sacks. 

In addition to these, wines, jellies, packages of farina and corn 
stach. spices, soap, bandages, lint, and quantity of dried apple — 
in ?11 estimated at 4^718 00, 

l^efhaps it will not be amiss to noti<^e in this connection the 
number of comfort bags sent from Amherst — 280, valued at one 
.shilling each, or $46 67. These were not sent exclusively by this 
Society, liut .in connection with the Sabbath School, Some of 
our little friends have received very gratifying answers from these 
and the letters they contained. 

Our meetings have been held nearly every week during the 
year, and still the work goes on. 

The war is not yet ended. A large number of our young men 
have gone forth. — the dearly loved, the fondly cherished. Alas ! 
the number is fearfully large who have gone forth never to return. 
Many are still there, exposed to all the peri's of a soldier's life — 
true patriots, who would not under any consideration shrink from 
duty, oi- prove themselves cowards. Wh le such strong incen- 
tives to exertion remain, shall we fail to work on ? .Shall we re- 
frain from sending aid and comfort to those who are so nobly 
contending for our best interests.^ Let us not fall back until con- 
queror hall be stamped on every brow, and the noise of battle 
be heard no more. Then, as we sit quietly by our own firesides, 
to enjoy that peace which strong hands and true hearts have so 
bravely won for us, may we ha\e the .satisfaction of thinking we 
have not been si ent spectators in the great drama, but have 
"done with our might what our hands have found to do." 
Respectfully submitted, 

A. R. CAMrHELL, Trcas. 




As ali-eady recorded, great and fearful uneasiness prevail- 
ed throughout the loyal land, as dawned the fourth year of 
our great national conflict. The long-continued and deadly 
struggle, and the fearful wants and wastes of war, had not 
only brought heavy sorrows to all hearts, but})inching need 
and personal physical suffering all over the loyal and disloy- 
al land. With gold at 280, cost of living had become enor- 
mous, and rumors of starvation, even, were rife in the land. 
Business in all departments was fearfully depressed, and 
many uiuible to obtain work or support. Newspapers all 
over the land were suspending because of the enormous cost 
of paper, and here, in the home-field, the loyal old Cabinet 
struggling, as a drowning man, for very life, as will soon by 
this home-record be seen. AVant and suffering were dire, 
and everywhere. 



M AMIIEI?ST IN THE AVAl? — 18()l-n5. 

With Scott, Ilalleck. Lincoln, the Cabinet, and Congress, 
all in the tield of leadei'ship, the campaign was strangely in 
want of unification, I'eniinding the ^\ orld of the homely but 
significant aphorism of "too many cooks," &c. Congress, 
foreseeing the evil, and that it would only end in disaster 
and final defeat, took tlie "new departure" of creating the 
new office of Lieutenant (General of the L". S. Army, and by 
special enactment placed the whole control and direction of 
the entire caujpaign in the hand of that cool and clear head, 
Tylesses >. Grant — and, froin that point the loyal army 
moved "on to Richmond" and victory, though not without 
oft defeat and disaster. 

P^ven in anticipation, of this wise measuie, new couiage 
and determination was evinced in the Councils of the Na- 
tion by a rousing call, February 1, for 500,000 more men, 
(inclusive of the 800,000 called in October. "> Of these some 
2000 were needed from N. H. — from Amherst. Drafting 
here under this call, for various reasons, was delayed until 
the first of May, 

One of the first noticeable events of 1864 in Amherst was 
a prompt and uoble response to the following appeal made 
through the Cabinet : 

Mr. Boylston— Shall not a general effort be made in Hillsbo- 
rough County for the relief of the starving families of East Ten- 
nessee ? Amherst and the adjoining towns made generous con- 
tributions for Ireland when stricken by famine, ought not a 
similar movement to be made at once, in behalf of our country- 
men, many of them driven from their homes, houseless and stript 
of all, because of their attachment to the Union ? The call is ur- 
gent, and a prompt contribution would carry bread to women and 
children ready to perish of hunger. (Signed) J. G. Davis. 
This appeal was thus endorsed by the Cabi)ict : 
"We cordially endorse the above suggestion. Those that hon- 
or me I will honor, is the assurance of Him who alone can honor 
us in the great struggle through which we are passing, with an 
honorable result. We have the assurance of His own hand that 



AMHERST IN TPIE WA R— 18(51 -H."). rjo 

in no way is He more honored by us than in feeding; of the hun- 
gry, clothing the destitute, and relie\ing the sick and suffering. 
Surely there never was a cause that appealed more closely to the 
hearts of all who love their country and its defenders." 

Two weeks later the Cnhiiu^f contained the folJowiiio item : 

"By a receipt placed in our hands it appears that the citizens of 
Amherst have contributed and placed in the hands of Hon. P^d- 
ward Everett, for the relief of the suffering ]jeople of h'ast Ten- 
nessee the handsome sum of $282. The ladies, also, propose to 
make a handsome donation of clothing. If any of our neighbors 
have clone better we should l)e happy to report it." 

Monday, Eebruary loth, was a gala day in Amhei'st. St. 
Valentine's day occuring on Sunday, the day following w;is,^" 
chosen by the Ladies to fling to the l»veeze the s])lendid new 
Banner they had purcliased to supjily tlie place of that lost 
in the late conflagvation. The following account is co])ied 
from the Cahinet : 

"Monday, the loth, was selected by the Bainier CInb to 
present to the Union-loving citizens of the place, through 
the Republican Club, the beantiful Valentine tlieir enter- 
prise and energy had secured. Accordingly, all who had 
taken part in the Christmas Festival (by the avails of which 
this flag was purchased) were nivited to meet at the flag-staff, 
and at 2 p. m. it was surrounded by a circle of as bright and 
happy faces as is often seen abroad on a Winter's day, — a 
scene, that if seen by Jeff Davis, would have compelled the 
exclamation, "/^ is no use fo contend further !"' 

The Flag and Streamer were elevated to their place by 
the fair hands which had procured them — Beauty elevated hy 
Beauty, — when it was unfurled, and floated out amidst the 
strains of '■'Fling ovt the Flag .'" 

E. D. Boylston, presiding, aftei- V)riefly congi'atulating the 
Club on the consummation of their labors and the beauty of 
the flag now floating proudly over their heads — which beauty 
had bought, love would cherish, and duty defend, — introduced 
the Rev. J. G. Davis, who opened a very fine address with 
the happy remark that "tliere were two things of which he 
was always happy to speak and to commend, the Bible, and 



.■)() AMIIEHST IX THE W AH— 1 SHI -(55. 

tliH dear old Flag. ' His remarks were admirably adapted 
to til-; occasion and to his hearers, and to awaken in the 
youth that veneration for the Flag, and the Institutions of 
our Government, so desirable for them to feel. 

Beautiful addresses were made by William B. Clark, of 
Amherst College, and Edward A. Richardson of Dartmouth 
College, (both of w hom had lieen conscripted, but not ac- 
cepted.) A sentiment, by I)r, F. l\ Fitch, complimenting 
the ladies of the Club, and thanking them for their beauti- 
ful gift, was received with three hearty cheers. The Club 
and citizens then joined in singing "The Star-Spangled Ban- 
ner," — when three cheers were given for the speakers, and 
three times three for the beautiful flag overhead. 

A beautiful incident succeeded. At the very moment the 
last cheer for the flag died upon the ear, the old Town Bell, 
ever loyal and oft over patriotic, seemed to catch the inspi- 
ration and enthusiasm of the occasion, and with a strength 
of to.ie unusual, sounded out its "one, two, three " and 
drew from the delighted throng three rousing cheers for the 
loyal town bell ! 

The Schools were dismissed to honor the occasion, and, 
altogether, it wavS a scene of a life-time, the impressions of 
which will be permanent and telling upon the future of the 
youth present, and the patriotism of the place. 

The flag was purchased by a committee of the Club, (con- 
sisting of INIisses Harriet J. Xutt, Elizabeth G. Lawrence, 
and Lizzie Wilkins) of R, M. Yale, Esq,, of Boston, costing 
i|82. It is 40 feet in length, 20 in width, with a streamer of 
90 feet, most thoroughly made of the best English bunting, 
and an extra star for West Virginia to be adde4, "agreea- 
bly to the statute iu such case made and provided." Tt was 
wholly made by a young lady of 16, Miss Emma Wilkinson, 
of Maiden, Mass. 

On the evening of the same day, the participants in the 
labors of the Christmas Festival to the number of about fifty 
held a social gathering at "Busyfield," the residence of E. D. 
Boylston, for the presentation of the flag to the Republican 
Club. The "beauty" was festooned in the centre of the 
double parlor, the Club forming gracefully in a semi-circle, 
when the President, Miss Harriet J. Nutt, in the following 
neat address, passed it into the hands of John F. Whiting, 



AMHEHST IX THE WAR— 18(51-';:). 57 

Es(^., delegated by the Kepiil)lica;i Club to i-eceive it : 
Deletjiifes of tJie RepuhlicaN f'luh : 

My limited time forbids many words, therefore please 
pardon brevity. 

'Tis past the hour of midnight : th^ alarm bell peals foi'th 
the cry of fire. What a feai'f id scene was that ! The moi-n- 
ing's light told of many a loss. Ft was whispered from lip 
to lip that oui- beautiful flag — our village pride, our nation's 
boast — had perished ; and its requiem we all silently chant- 
ed. To-day we have flung to the breeze our Valentine, and 
the noon-day sun has kissed its broad stripes and bright 
stars, not one of them effaced. They all shine there with 
undinimed lustre. And, you will now allow me, sir, at the 
request of the ladi'^s of the Banner Club, to present to you 
our Valentine. It is not surrounded with Cupid's artillery, 
but with these restrictions : This we give to fill the place of 
the dear old Flag which has gone, and to your care and 
keeping we give it as a Union Flag, and for such purpose 
to be used, and none other. 

Mr. Whiting very appropriately responded, tendering the 
thanks of the Club for the beautiful Valentine, and pledg- 
ing himself and the Club to the concdtions. 

A circle of the Ladies then clasped hands, and, with an 
impromptu dance around the F'lag, gracefully courtesied it 
from their control, but not from their love. 

After a bountiful repast, provided by the Banner Club, 
the following sentiments were introduced, and responses 
listened to : — 

Our Flag. 

R. M. Yale, Esq., the gentlemanly manufacturer of the 
flag, had been invited to be present and respond to this sen- 
timent, but prevented by sickness, responded by letter : 

Boston, February 12, 1864. 
Miss P. E. M'Kean and Ladies of the Banner Club : 

I send you herewith the Flag and streamer ordered by Miss 
Lawrence and other ladies of your town, and hope they may be 
satisfactory to all. I regret that sickness in my family will pre- 
vent myself and Mrs. Gale from being present with you at Mr. 
Boylston's on the evening of the 15th. Please accept our thanks 
for your kind invitation. I doubt not you will have a pleasant 



58 AMHEKST IN THE WAR— 1861-65. 

time. Please allow me, however, to give you a sentiment for 
the occasion : — 

The Flag of our Conntry — Glorious in its origin, and glorious in 
its history. When it shall come out of its present struggle, with 
not a star fallen, nor a tripe dissevered, the Flag of our Coun- 
try still, then shall its glory be like 

"The brightness of another morn 
''liisen at mid-noon.'' 

Very truly yours — R. M. Yale 

To this beautiful sentiment E. D. Bo>lston responded, 
briefly alluding to the origin, history and the destiny of the 
Stars and Stripes. 

The Pen — The pen is mightier than the sword. 
Response by Miss P. E. M'Kean : 

"The Poet's Pen — the true divining rod, 

"Which trembles towards the inner founts of feeling." 

The Telegraph. 

I'll put a girdle round the earth in forty minutes." 
This electrical sentiment was responded to by II. H Ab- 
bot in the reading of a telegram purporting to have just 
come over the wire, covering the Proclamation of Jefferson 
Davis to all Confederates, to lay down their arms— with an 
added rumor that Jeff, had sailed for Europe, in pursuit of 
health. 

Art. — "Like Pilgrims of old, we kiss the shrine of Art. 
Response by Miss C. M. Lawrence : 

What is art, in its varied forms, but the embodiment of 
the true, the beautiful, and the good ; a feeble imitation of 
the master-pieces of tlie Great Artist ! The perfection of 
our attainments can bring us but to the feet of the Gi-eat 
Teacher — the only true, the wholly good, and the "One alto- 
gether lovely." 
The Brave Fallen— 

"How sleep the brave who sink to rest 
"By all their Country's wishes blest !" 

Response by P^dward A. Richardson : — "Ladies, T fee! sure 
that your beautiful sentiment awakes emotion in all hearts. 



AMHERST IN THE W A R— ISHl-Gf). oO 

When a 'j;reat man dies, a nation weeps and mourns his loss. 
As the sad wliisper of his death passes from lip to lip, from 
city to city, to marble palace and humble cottage, the hearts 
of all ovi^rflow with sadness, and deeply feel the loss. He 
may have had little to do with commerce or the affairs of 
government ; yet the national colors are dis])layed at half- 
mast, the highest honors of the nation are bestowed upon 
him, and the deep sacred level of the common world's heart 
honors his memory. 

This quiet community of ours has been affected by en)o- 
tions akin to tliHse. We are met to give play to the social 
ele nent^ in our naturas. The bright and hippy fac^s al)oat 
m^ b'^token only mirth and jov. But in the m dst of our 
festivities do we not often stop and ponder ? We have not 
lost firent men (in the common acceptanc-; of th^" term) from 
our community ; but the absenc<^of familial" faces, th-^ sable 
garments of very many households, speak but too plainly of 
what Amhei'st has suffered. 

Young men, with the dew of early manhood fresh upon 
their brows, and the star of their glory in the ascendant ; and 
men of middle age, in w^hom the confidence of the commu- 
nity reposed, have alike yielded their lives in defence of the 
flag which you have to-day dedicated 

Although you have frequently passed in review the names 
of those included in the sentiment to which you desire me 
to respond, yet I cannot forl)ear to mention them : - Holt, 
Sawtelle, Ober, Johnson, Parkhurst, Thelps, Vose, Damon, 
Blanchai'd, Sawtelle, Sloan, Mace, Gutterson, M'Clure, Cor- 
liss, Few. and perchancp others \vhom I have omitted. The 
list embraces all parts of the town, and cannot be recited in 
this asseml)ly, even, without touching tender chords, and a 
never-ending sorrow. It is not my purpose to recount the 
doings of all these brave men commemorated by my senti- 
ment ; to state how, wrought to the highest intensity, flush- 
ed with hope of anti':'ipated good, with hearts touched with 
patriotic fi^*e. they disi-egarded the comforts of home, and 
gave their lives a willing sacrifice. To do so w'ould be su- 
perfluous : they are all familiar to you as a twice-told tale. 

With all of our men who have fallen iu this conflict 1 had 
not a personal acquaintance, and, did I so desire, T could not 
speak of the n witli justice ; but there were some of them, 



00 



AMHKRST IX THE AVAK— ISHl-Oa. 



especially *one, with whom I had a pf^rsoiial and intimate 
ac(piaintance. It is needless to mention his name. I know 
you will pardon me for referring to him. Connected as he 
was to me by a three-fold bond — the bond of friendship, a 
(•lass-n)nte foi- three consecutive vears, and the still stroh^er 





*LYMAN BEECHER SAWTF LLE. 
(See page 48, and Closing Sketches. ) 

ties of fraternity — I could not but deplore his untimely end. 
Though he fell not on the battle-iield, the blood-stained sod 
his pillow, the roar of battle his requiem, yet, with the con- 
sciousness of duty well performed, he was permitted to pass 
his declining days amid the kindness of friends. Faculties 
of no ordinary character were his, and when "the silver coi-d 



AMIIKllST IX THE WAR— 18H1-65. CI 

was loosed," he left not alone a weeping kindred, but a 
mourning band of classmates. 

But it is idle for me to indulge in more extended remark. 
No >vords of mine can add lustre to their names. By our 
"Roll of Honor" we are reminded how thinly woven is the 
veil that separates from eternity. 

When the aged man, who seems to have performed his 
earthly mission, is gathered to his rest, we feel a melancholy 
regret ; V)ut when we see young nipu, like the majority of 
tliose upon our "Roll of Honor," with brilliant prospects, 
thus summoned, our grief cannot be otherwise than the most 
profound, — a fearful transition from joyous life to inscruta- 
ble death, with the buoyant hope, the high career crushed ! 

"How sleep tlie brave who sink to rest 
■'By all their Country's wishes blest I" 

They sleep in peace, — they live in memory. 

PRiNriN(; — Down through the dim corridors of space the shad- 
ow of Guttemburg, Faust and .^choeffer lingers here where will- 
ing subjects are to be found. 
Response by A. A. Rotch, closing with : 

The art we love, the art we serve, 

Was born of men we love to name ; 
That art, thoiiq,ii "Black Art'' sometimes called, 

Is a proud record to their fame, 
'ay Heaven our land forever bless 
With a loyal, gifted and free Press. 

Ladies of the Banner Club, — may you have uo occasion to re- 
gret the exertions you have made for the restoration of the old 
Flag, by seeing a stripe thereof soiled, or a star dimmed. 

Union is strength. 

Eloquent response by Wm. B. Clark : Ladies and friends. 
I know of no sentiment to which I could more heartily re- 
spond, than that just offered — "Union is strength." 

The golden bond of union, joining in community of office 
and interest the Confederate States of Greece, made thjit lit- 
tle power supreme in art and arms. It made old Home the 
mistress of the world. It has given Liberty to Poland, and 
nationality to Italy. 

Less than a century ago the nations of Europe saw plant- 



(\-2 AAIIIKHST IX TUK WAR— 1861-65. 

ex] ill the wilderness of tlie West, a few Purita.i Colonies. 
It is tlie union of tiiose Colonies, bound toi^eiher by ties of 
brotherhood, of common interest and of common peril, that 
has made us what we are to-day. 

We have loved this glorious Union ! It is frau,t;ht with 
all the hallowed memories of our Pilgrim sires. Around it 
cluster the thrilling recollections of the Revolution. It was 
])ought and sealed by the blood of those who fell at Lexing- 
ton and Bunker Hill. They bequeathed it to us, — a price- 
less heritage, the soui'ce of every blessing, tlie bulwark of our 
strength. It has given us the best government on earth, 
lender its fostering care have flourished the noblest institu- 
tions enjoyed by man — arms, art, learning, religion, — the 
highest civilization, tru(^st liberty. We have loved the Union 
with our whole heart, and mind, and strength, and we lore 
if stiil .' I*arty spirit, sectional rivalry, j)oliiical ambition, 
have alienated many from their old allegiance. AVe have 
clung to the Union through all the alternations of hope ai.d 
fear, of victory and defeat ; and cling to it still. It has no 
lukewarm friends to-day. There can be but Wo parties- 
Unionists and Traitors. On one side aje arrayed the true 
friends of the EepubJic of every party, the unconditional 
supporters of the Government, who will stand by it at any 
hazard, and at any cost. On the other, those w ho liave been 
rebel sympathizers from the first, who lose no opportunity 
to thwart its measures and cripple its power ; whose vehe- 
ment protestations of loyalty are equalled only by the bitter- 
ness with which they attack the Administration, and their 
persevering attempts to secure dismemberment and ruin. 
Liberty and equality, emancipation and progress, republic- 
anism and salutary iaw% now stand face to face with treach- 
ery and cori-uption, ignorance and slavery, anarchy and mis- 
rule. We have now- to decide wdiich we will choose. God 
grant us strength and wisdom to choose aright. 

If we are true to the cause we have espoused if we heart- 
ily support the Government and Administration, whose pol- 
icy we believe is dictated by the soundest wisdom and the 
purest motives, all may yet be well. But there can be no 
more union with Slavery. Yes, one or the other must die. 
Slavery 7nust perish .' All those "fallen braves, '—heroes un- 
known and countless— who now sleep on Southern soil, have 



AMIIKHST I\ THE WAR lOOl-').-). Cy^ 

said it! Bakei-, Laiidoii, and Lyon — Wintliio[), the patriot 
scholar — Mitchell, the Christian patriot — Shaw, slee[)in,o' in 
that Southern .swamp, beneath twenty five nni^roes — all have 
said it. The negro himself, charging on Fort Wa^nei-, said 
it. The Government and Administration have said it. and 
every loyal man in th ^ nation says it i.i his heart to-night. 
What! have we lavished all this blood and tieas iie to buy 
a transient peace, as weak and futile, as despicable and hu- 
miliating ? Have our sons and brothers died on the battle- 
fields of the South, that hereafter the wealthy slave-driver 
may reap moi'e abundant harvests from plantations nu\de 
rich by blood of New England freeman? No, never ! All 
the proud men ory of the past ; all the noble independence 
and love of liberty inherited from our Fathers of the Revo- 
lution ; all the pride of our New England nature ; all that 
we esteem in num, or prize in liberty, say no ! \\'e want 
the good old Constitution as it is, interpreted as its great 
founders intended it should be ; and a true permanent Union 
— a Union untainted by the breath of Slavery— a Union as 
it ought to be -a, Union of liberty, equality, fraternity, — the 
members of which shall be of one heart, one interest, one 
aim — and that aim, the salvation of their Conntry. 

May that happy time soon come, when peace and security 
shall dwell in all our homes ; when a iniited, free and ha])- 
py people all over our land, fi-om the pole to the Gulf, from 
the rock-bound coa >t of the Atlantic to the sunny slope of 
the Pacific, shall unite with one voice in singing the song of 
our own poet — 

Sail on, sail on, O Ship of State ! 
Sail on, O Union, strong and great ! 
Our hopes and fears are all with thee. 
Our hopes and fears, our prayers and tears 
Are all with thee, are all with thee. 

Our Gentlemen - 

Response by Miss Liz/Je G. Lawrence : 

Never judge a man by the texture of his coat ; a man that 
bears himself a man, /s a man. 

Music — 

The words that bear a mission high, 
If niiisic-hallowed, never die . 



m AMHERST TN THE WAR— 1861-65. 

Response by William A. Mack, who in closing gave : 

The Home Guard — may they ever keep step to the music of 
the Union. 

I'OETKY — 

'J'here breathes no being but has some pretence 
To that fine instinct called poetic sense. 

Response by E. D. Boy 1st on : 

The Muse demands a tribute meet 
When thus your Club each other greet. 
Your sentiment in truth doth run — 
But why make laureate of one 
Who to "fine instinct of poetic sense" 
Surely may make t/ie least "pretence" .'* 
Much more befitting some of you, 
Who've travel'd all her choice walks through, 
Who know and court her every style, 
And thus our ejinui oft beguile. 
Should here your love, the iMuse, befriend, 
And her clean loyalty defend. 
But if you all your friend forsake, 
Brief plea in her defence I'll make. 

Such tribute, surely, seems to me. 
Should of the heroic order be ; 
For round the Flag the Muse would smile 
At her defence in other style. 
But brief the hour — and brief the wit 
That hath heroic soul in it. 
This one fine trait of the sweet Muse 
Will I for a just tribute choose : 
Loyalty to the dear old Flag ! 
Who ever knew her swerve or lag ? 

There is no poetry in Treason ! 
Poetry is truth and reason ; 
Thought, warming, glowing in the light 
And holy sunshine of the Right ! 
Thus loyally enthroned she reigns, 
And Union, Liberty sustains. 
For true as she, so true each heart 
To which she doth her grace impart — 
Not always men of royal birth, 
But truest, noblest men of earth ! 
Men of large hearts, and always warm, 
Hearts for sunshine and for storm ; 



AMIIF.R^T IN THE W AR-lS<n-r>5. 

W im-st friends, for^ivincr fo-s- 

Forgivin? freely all but those 

Who are hostile, foes to thee^ 

Dear old emblem of the Free . 
Happiest is the Muse when she 

Sin(Ts the peans of the free ^; 

Siddest when she grieves o er those 

Of Cxod and Liberty th foes. 

How she loves the brave nren who 

To Country and to C^od are true . 

Oft, as the battle rolls alonff, ^,,ona- 

She makes the strong heart still moie stiong. 

Or, c^lms the dying warrior s teai, 

And bids him weep not,-"Heaven is near . 

With statesmen oft her voice i heaia. 

In many a sweet and truthful word, 

Winning, by grace she only knows. 

Mental conquests over foes— , , . , . 

Conquests for Law, and Truth and Light, 

Country and Union, God and Light. 

With the man of God she stands, 

Spreading gracefully her hands, 

l^idding each sin-stricken soul 

Seek Siloam— be made whole. 

Loyal is th v lovino: h ea rt.— 

Siveet Muse, to all, this grace impart ! 

Treason, Treachery shun the Muse, 
The pure the impure never choose ; 
Vileness with Virtue cannot walk ; 
Treason, unsung, in shame must stalk ! 
Treason, treachery have no flag. 
Their fitting emblem, a vile rag! 
So base no father will it own, 
And Satan, e'en, the bairn disown ! 
Never the Muse, in holy ire, 
Kindles and lights with true Greek-fire, 
As when, encountered in her path. 
Foul Treason knows her more than wrath ! 
She hates it !— scorns it !-and full well 
Writes it— "Satellite of Hell!" 

Proof of her loyalty, one more, 
And my tribute shall be o'er : 
Who that saw our banner bright 
Float to-day in Heaven's pure light, 



().) 



06 AMHERST IN THE WAR— 1861-f55. 

Tint felt an inspiration rare, 
Sweetly filling its pure air ? 
With Poetry the Flag runs o'er ! 
It sings its strains at every dooi ; 
In every stripe, and every star, 
Liberty, Love recorded are ; 
And where it floats, on land and sea, 
It bids humanity kk free ! 

For Loyalty that never slept, 

O Muse beloved, our praise accept. 

True and loyal may we be. 

As the Muse, Old Flag, to thee ! 

Our Valentine — 

"Long, long may it wave 
"O'er the land of the free, and home of the brave," 

And may it ever be preserved upon the "square." 

Lieut. Nornian Biirdick, who had been invited to respond 
to this sentiment, did so by letter : 

Ladies of the Banner Club — 

I thank you for the honor conferred in sending nie the 
above noble quotation a.id original sentiment, and asking 
me to respond to the same. I regret that circumstances pre- 
vent my meeting with you this evening, where I am sure 
mutual congratulations will be exchanged, in the consum- 
mation of that noble and patriotic object for which the 
Banner Club was formed. 

You doubtless had a feeling of well-earned pride, as you 
flung your beautiful "Valentine" to the breeze, with praises 
and wishes of God-speed — bea-.itiful not only in the richness 
of its stripes and starry folds, but richer and more beautiful 
as the emblem of our now suffering, but yet to be great and 
glorious, "land of the free, and home of the brave/' 

May it be preserved on the "square." So say we all, for 
the "square" to the initiated is an emblem of virtue, fitting 
companion to journey through the destinies of our nation, 
as the preserver of the Flag which it illuminates, and will 
ever but safely lead on to truth and victory. 

Since you have referred to the "square," let me quote, for 



AMHERST IX THE WAR- 18(51 -fin. 67 

the interest of all concerned, a sentence that is taught to all 
' 'Si ][U are-workers : 

•'In the State you are to he a quiet and peaceful citizen, 
true to your Government and just to your Country ; you are 
not to countenance disloyalty or rebellion, but patiently sub- 
mit to legal authority, and conform with cheerfulness to the 
laws of the country in which you live." 

You see, therefore, had all been taught by that "square" 
to which you refer, and then followed the noble teaching it 
inculcates — 

There never would have raised a rebel hand 
To strike the banner of our native land ; 
But all would join and sing its praise, 
Through earthly, if not eternal days. 

Yours — N. BuKDiCK. 

Country Life. 
Response by Miss Lizzie Wilkins : 

Full many a gem of purest ray serene 

The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear ; 

Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, 
And waste its sweetness on the desert air. 

Voluntary by ]Miss L. C Lawrence : 

Our Host and Hostess, and their valuable seconds- May their 
hospitable fires ever burn as brightly as they do to-night. 

Followed by ]\Iiss A. J. Js utt. President : 

And in future years at our re-unions, may the fire in our hearts ev- 
er burn as brightly as those which cheer us to-night. 
To which was added as a finale — 

The Ladies' Banner Club — Happy in its conception, beautiful 
in its organization, noble in its accomplishment, — its memory 
shall dwell in loving hearts and give ardor to our affection for 
the dear old Flag. 

This was a pleasing episode, that served, for the hour, to 
lighten the terrible burden upon all loyal hearts. But that 
there were traitors in Amherst was evinced by the fact that 
the halyards on the flag-staff were soon after ruthless cut in 
pieces in the night. 





WILLIAM A. MACK, 



AMHERST IN THE WAR— 18(51 -Ho. V)9 

Opening March brought the sad intelligence of the drown- 
ing of Corporal John L. Kendall, of Co. I, Fifth Regt., at 
Fortress Monroe, from the steamer Commodore Dupont, on 
his way home. (See Closing Sketches,) 

May 17th, drafting commenced at Concord. Anjlierst's 
five honored men were Stephen A. ^NlcCiaffey, Pati'ick Buck- 
ley, Henry R. Boutell, John A. Boutell, Wm. A. Mack,— 
II. R. Boutell and S, A. McGaffey accepted. Another di'aft 
was at once made, and D. C. Shirley, Butler Flint and Al- 
bert Mason elected, — Shirley and Flint accepted, 

At a Town meeting, June 29th, William A. jMack, Plsq. 
(who, as Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, had managed 
the financial affairs of the Soldiers' department,) was elect- 
ed Special Town Agent for filling its cpiota. 'J'he town ap- 
propriated tf 60(10 for that purpose, and instructed him to fill 
its quota, without limitation. 

Opening Jnne bioiight the intelligence that Charles A. B. 
Hall, of Co. D, 9tli Regt,, (vAho left the very stand in the 
Cuhinet Office where this record is being made,) was instant- 
ly killed in the engagement near Spottsylvania. (See page 
86 and Closing Sketches.; 

Closing June brought the sad woid that George A. Ped- 
rick, of Co. H, 10th Regt., had been killed in the battle at 
Cold Harbor. (See Closing Sketches.) 

July 19th came another call for 500.000 ! Amherst's as- 
signment 'io ! 

A Citizen's meeting was called, August 8th, L J Second), 
Chairman, E. D. Boylston, Seci-etai-y. A committeg, con- 
sisting of John F. Whiting, Horace A, Clark, Jotham Harts- 
horn, J. (i. Dearborn and H. E. Abbot, reported recom- 
mending that ''Ml-. jNIack be directed to proceed to Concord 
to-morrow, and expend the -16000 appropriated by the town 



70 AMHERST IX THE WAR— 1861-65. 

for substitutes." Voted, that Charles B. Tuttle and Horace 
A. Clark assist him. A eomiiiittee was also appointed to 
canvass the town for contributions. 

A movement was also made to see what amount individu- 
als would contribute towards substitutes to cover their own 
names, the town to pay the balance. Nineteen offei'ed tflOO 
each, ten -^200 each, six -|;3()(). 

By a late law tov iis were at liberty to [lay any amount 
they pleased as bounty to three months' residents ; and Au- 
gust "JTth, the town voted to pay volunteers for a year $300 ; 
for two years .1400 ; for three yeava $500. This in addition 
to the monthly pay and State aid to families. 

Just at this juncture (lovernor Gilmore was authorized 
to raise four additional Companies of Heav} Artillery, and 
through the very liberal bounty offered, seven of the young 
men of Amherst enlisted in this corps — Charles E. Flint, 
Charles H. Shepard (who honoied Amherst and the Cabinet 
by an highly intelligent correspondence from the seat of 
war during its continuance,) Albert F. Boutell, Pklwin R. 
Roundy, William F. Russell, Nathan T. Taylor. Martin V. 
Weston, William E. Wallace. 

Through the enei-getic and well-directed efforts of Mr. 
Mack, aided by the prompt payment of $300 each, substi- 
tutes were procured for the following named citizens, releas- 
ing them from present or future service : 
Chester Shipley, Andrew J. Sawyer, Charles E. Grater, 
Geo. W. Upham, Noah P. Batchelder, John Fletcher, 
Joseph P. Trow, Ebenezer Jaquith, Frank Hartshorn, 
Albert A. Rotch, Asa Jaquith, Jr, Hollis E Abbot, 

AVilliam Melendy, John F. AVhiting, John Hadlock, 

Thus by the indomitable energy of the Town Agent, aid- 
ed by these generous offers of the town and its citizens, the 
(juota was seasonably filled, ?vith a man to spare ! 



AMHERST IX THE WAE— ISOl-nr,. 7l 

August brought back the boys left of the N. IE 8th, and 
the citizens of Amherst were delighted to welcome home 
Edwin Benden, reported killed, but only missing, and two 
months held as a prisoner by the rebels. 

By Proclamation of the President, seconded by that of 
the Governor, August 4th was observed as a day of Fasting 
and Prayer, in view of the National crisis. The day was 
solemnly observed in Amherst, with very appropriate church 
services. 

The "War Department Rifles" was formed in August, 
at Washington, of Clerks in that Bureau, and duly officered, 
equipped and commissioned. Co. C. was committed to the 
leadership of Captain Xewton T. Hartshorn, who had seen 
service in Co. B., U. S. Engineers, and who was of our first 
volunteers. (See frontispiece.) 

The Cabinet of September 8th, made the following pleas- 
ant announcement : 

"We are happy to learn that Rodney W. Burdick, of this 
place, has been appointed First Sergeant of Co. E, 3d Regt. 
X. H. Vols., for distinguishing bravery on the field and su- 
perior military conduct. Tt gives us great pleasure to see 
our brave boys who have thus honored us, honored thus by 
deserved promotion." 

A WISE RETREAT. 

Retreats are not oft graceful or commendable, this both. 
That "there is policy in \var," was well illusti-ated in the 
resort by which the venerable Farmers' Cabinet outlived the 
terrible "Conflict" w hich sent so many journals, all over the 
land, to the returnless bourne. 

Tn the Fall of 1864, with gold at 280, and the paper stock 
of the country largely exhausted, paper had so enormouslv 
"kited" that it was well-nigh out of reach of the financial 
grasp of the paporial fraternity, having gone to four times 



7-2 AMHERST IN THE WAR— 186:-65. 

its peace-day value. This, and the general stagnation of all 
departments of business, compelled the sus])ension of many 
well-estahlished journals, and the proprietors of all to seri- 
ously study how to avoid surrender. A Convention of the 
N. ... publishers, July 21, fixed the price of all weeklies at 
*2.()0 advance payment, as the lowest point that afforded a 
hope of continuance. July 28th, being the initial number 
of Vohime 68, the Cnbinet announced these as its unavoida- 
ble tei'uis during the continuance of the war. Hopelessly it 
pursued the even tenor of its way until Sej^t loth, when the 
following announcement was made : 

TO OUR SUBSCRIHEHS. 

"You may stop tny paper now. if you please. I would like to continue 
it at the old [)rice, but cannot -ifford to pay two dollars for it " 

Such is the decision of two-thirds of those who have called to 
settle for the Cabinet since our advance in the price. 

Well, Gentlemen and Ladies, it is impossible for us to comply 
with your ^^etieroiis wishes. We have furnished you our paper 
the last year at less than the cost of the raw material, and given 
you our services, a 1 hand , free. We should like our wood, but- 
ter, meat, grain, apples potatoes, at old rates, but you will not 
thus deal with us. You want donble, thribble, and oft not satis- 
fied at that. We would like our tea at 37 cents, but our traders 
want 137 ; our coffee at 10, but they want 50 ; our sugar at 7, but 
they want 27 ; our molasses at 25, but they want 100. Our paper- 
maker wants 35 cents a pound, instead of 8. We should like to 
be relieved from taxes, but printers know naught of such relief. 

Such are the necessities of the case, which we must in suioe 
way meet to avoid a full surrender. 

The next number of the Cahhiet appeared in a one-half 

size, and price reduced from its former rate (1.25) to $1.00, 

with the following cheerful bow : 

A Word for Ourselves. — War is a tyrant, and rules with an 
iron hand. It is unfeeling, relentless, and irresistable. Its iron 
grasp is upon our nation, and the people feel its power and groan 
beneath its burdens How manifold and marked the changes 
these yeais of strife have wrought we need not consume our ab- 
breviated space in te'ling. It is enough for us to say, that it, at 



AMHERST IN THE WAR — 1801 -6r:. 7:} 

last has ns in its grasp, with a grip which has essentially reduced 
o\xxJv7 7fi, but not a whit our hope or courage. lie "jV/7/ //rr /" 
and are '■'■marching oii''' to better days in the "good time coming" 
in the near future, when a restored Union, and restored friend- 
ship shall givi, us many bright and halcyon days beneath the rich 
folds of our cherished, yea, thousand times cherished, old Flag. 

Well fritnds, some of you may smile at our iitt/'uiess, but there 
is one thing we are sure of, none can "despise our j't////«," and it 
is this feature that makes us cling the more to life. "Never say 
die." has always been our motto, and it is on our banner still, in 
its application to our own and our national life. For both we in- 
tend to struggle on while there is hope 

If in making our editorial bow to-day we are compelled to un- 
cover a small head, it is one that has always been loyal and true, 
and on which ge rests lightly. If Providence denies a "four-in- 
hand," we mean to be content with the "one-horse shay," and "go 
ahead" with that. Heaven helping us, we will be loyal to duty, 
and Country, God and t ight. 

We shall strive to make this little sheet as welcome as possi- 
ble, and perchance the Cabinet, though the "little Benjamin," may 
scill abide among the brethren." 

This ruse was highly acceptable, and successful in bridg- 
ing over the hardest period of the wai". and enabling a re- 
liun in due time to its loiniei' piopoitior.s. \vith even an in- 
creased patronage. 

August 17th, the town appi'opriated $10,000 to enable its 
Agent to fill its quota promptly 

Dr. James Crombie, of Derry, appointed temporary Army 
Surgeon, in a letter to the Cabinet, reported the following 
items from Hospital at Fortress Monroe, Sept, 1st : 

"One of the first patients I saw was G. Kelson Wheeler of 
Amherst, of Co. D, of 10th N. H. Vols. He was in the last 
stages of typo malarial fever. All efforts for him were to no 
purpose. He died at 10 1-2 p. m., August 23. I asked him 
what T should say to his friends. He replied, "Tell them I 
wish them well.' It was all he could say. I attended his fun- 
eral procession of soldiers, with solemn beat and ti-ead. He 
was buried in a quiet resting place on the shore of the beau- 
tiful Chesapeake. Mr. Frank Mace, of Amherst, is also one 
of my patients. He will recover." 




'■J 




a:\ihehst ]\ THE war— i.soi-or). to 

The 8th Heavy Artillery left for Washington, Sept. Httli, 
and in Co, F., recruited at Kasliua, our 1 ( vs. (seepage 70,) 
and a week later were reported at Fort Foote, "my Maiy- 
land," on the Potomac, '-well, and taking their rations at 
the hands of "General Taylor," with a zest that looks rath- 
er liard for the Dr." The way tlie ahhreriafed Cahinef was 
received amorg them is thus given : 

"As soon as its arrival in camp was known, the boys gathered 
around the lucky possessor, all eager to hear news from home. 
Many were the regrets expressed at its reduction in size, yet the 
wish was unanimous that the stern necessities of war would nev- 
er compel the editor to haul down his flag ; but if he cannot float 
it over the Frigate, why, take the Cutter !" 

November J, there was a great crowd in Andiei-st to hear 
Vice President Handin, on the war. Large delegations at- 
tended fi'oni all the neighboring towns, several with bands 
of music. Hundreds were unable to get inside the Church. 
Aaron Lawrence, Esq. presided. Mr. Haudin failing to ap- 
pear until aiternoon, Hon. E. H. Rollins addressed the great 
crowd. At 3 p m, ]Mr. Hamlin arrived, and spake for two 
liours, declaring his platform to be, — "His Country — his 
Country Jirst, last, always I'' He was most enthusiastically 
received. An overflow meeting, at the same time, was ad- 
dressed by Mr. Rollins, in the Town Hall btdow. Nearly 
2000 peoplie were present. 

The veterans of the Fifth, whose three years' enlistment 
had expired, returned the first week in November, and Am- 
herst gave her brave trio, Col. Hapgood, Lieuts. Fay and 
Geo. Vose, (all of whom had been wounded,) a most hearty 
welcome home. At their reception at Concord, in reply 
to the Governor's address of welcome, Col. Hapgood spake 
of the hardships and sacrifices of the Regiment, and pledg- 
ed the scanty remnant returning, only about sixty, to the 
loyal cause. About 30 were left behind in hospitals, and 
40 as re-enlisted veterans. 



76 



AMHERST IN THE WAR— 1861-65. 



The annual Thanksgiving was a day of hearty praise. 
Lincoln had l)een triumphantly re-elected ; Atlanta had 
fallen, and proudly Sherumn, Sheridan, Grant were ''march- 
ing on" to assured victory, [.eaveii had honored our arms 
and implements, and all hearts joyed in the hope of speedy 




LIEUT. J. BYRON FAY. 

return of tlie days of peace and plenty. 1'he Congregation- 
al church gathering emphasized its gratitude and increased 
its joy by a contribution of f80 for the '-Boys in Blue." 

December brought another call, for oOO,000, the last hav- 
ing netted but 40 per cent, of the men called for. 



AMHKRST IX THE W A 1^—1 8(11 -(5o. 77 

Dec. lltli, C. H. S., in his correspondence, says : 

"Our picket-pot, and from which I date this, and where now 
writing, is about one mile from Fort Simmons, at the ruins of a 
fine old stone mansion. * * On the plasttrc^d walls around me 
where Pompey and Dmah made shadowy sheepheads for amuse- 
ment of the masters and misses, I can now read the record that 
tells how the universal Yankee, the Soldier of the Union has been 
here from homes how wide apart ! They represent Maine, Mass , 
Penn, California, &c., and among others is duly emblazoned the 
worthy name of "William F. Russell, ist N. FJ. H. A., to the 
credit of old Amherst " 

Dec. 20, the town voted to refund to those who had furn- 
ished substitutes the amount they had paid out over .|2(M), 
(the amount they had pledged.) Voted to pay Jfi^OO and to 
advance the State bcninty to all who shall put in substitutes 
to fill the town's (piota under the call for 5()0,(H)() men. and 
instructed jVIr. Mack to fill its quota. 

During the latter part of the year and through its future 
the Ladies' Aid Society largely devoted their unremitting la- 
bors to the ueeds and calls of loyal refugees and freedmen. 

The year was indeed a sad and eventful one, and its story 
may not better be summed up for this record than is thus 
done in the closing words of the Cnhlnet : 

"With this we close the editorial duties of another year,- an 
eventful year. Sad have been its delineations — painful its remi- 
niscences. Scenes of carnage, tales of desolation, death, records 
of stricken hearts and homes. But, thank Ciod, we 'still li vp: !" 
and as the smoke of batde clears up at the close of the year, a 
brightened future is revealed to our longing, waiting eyes. And 
thanks to Lincoln, Grant, Sherman, Thomas, and Farragut, and 
Porter, and all the brave and valiant sons of the land and of the 
ocean who have upheld the Government, and fought its battles, 
and won those victories which are a prestige of coming Peace, 
Union, and unexempled Prosperity, in days not far away, when 
these glorious United States shall, all untramelled by Slavery, 
stand forth in the pride of their purification and disenthrallment, 
the admiration of the world ! Then shall "the fields rejoice and 
the trees clap their hands," and Freedom go flying around the 
Farth, bearing the "red, white and blue," and joyfully proclaim- 
ing — -'Behold what God hath wrought I" 




With the opening of 1865, the States in Rebellion, one 
after another, gave signs of relenting, and came wheeling 
into the line of Freedom and the Union. The Confederacy 
saw nothing but defeat and dissolution before it, but its 
desperate and despairing leaders seemed determinedtomake 
its dying struggles as bitter as possible. 

lu anticipation of another draft, a new enrollment had 
been made in Amherst, and was a matter of some curiosity, 
as such an one would be to-day, as revealing for the first 
time the occupation of some of its citizens ! 

There was much anxiety felt here as to the call for troops 
pending, and energetic efforts were made both by the town 
and State authorities, to have New-Hampshire's quota coi- 
rected, and by a favorable and truthful decision of the War 
Department, full and fair allowance was made for the three 
years' men, and thereby Amherst declared out of the draft ! 
much to the relief of not a few expectants ! But aad, for 
the true-blue boys in the field, and the Government as well, 
was the enlistment of the worthless substitutes ! 



AMIIEKST IN THE WAR— 1861-(55. 



79 



January KUh, V)rought, home to their iinal rest the re- 
mains of a worthy and faithful sohlier, ^M art in P. Weston, 
of the 6th N. H. Heavy Artillery, who deceased at Fort 
Simmons. Md., on the 11th, suddenly and unlooked-for, of 
congestion of the lunos. (See Closing Sketches.) 




MARTIN P. WESTON, 

February opened with wild rejoicings, the House of Rep- 
resentatives in Congress having, on the closing day of Jan- 
uary, passed the Joint Resolution, rejected at the previous 
session, submitting to the Legislatures of the several States 
a proposition so to amend the Constitution of the United 



S!) 



A M 1 1 1 : K ST I X T 1 1 E \V A 1{ — 1 86 1-65. 



States as to prohibit Slavery in any a:i I all of tliem, bv a 
vote of 112 to 56, Just the two-thirds requisite ! 'I'liere vvas 
<>i-eat joy iu Amherst, with public detnoustrations. 
April 7th, the Cahint^t had the followiug item : 
"We re?rc;t to learti that our youn^ to-.vas.nan, Frederic A. 
Wilson, who went from this ofifice in the 5th N. II , was wound- 
ed in the wrist, on the 31st ult." 




FREDERIC A. WILSON. 

"Coming events cast their shadows before," and C. H. S. 

of the 6th Heavy Artillery, wrote March 11th, from Fort 

(iaines, thus prophetically: 

"Give us a few weeks of pleasant weather, and Jeff, Davis and 
the whole C. S. A. can "hang their harps upon ihe willows." Do 
you doubt it ? Just get Idoyd's last military map ; see the posi- 
tion of Grant, Sheridan, Sherman, Porter, Terry, and then see 
Lee's, and your doubts will vanish !' 



AMHERST TN THE WAR— 1801-65. 



81 



April opened with stirring Union victories — the fall of 
Richmond — the taking of Charleston — tlie viitual and com- 
plete overthrow of the hell-born, stubbor i Confederacy, — 
"Satan's kinudoni tuniblin"- down !" 




CHARLES H. SHEPARD. 
Great was the joy and rejoicing, local and universal, as 
at dawn on Monday, April the 10th, there w^ent a flashing- 
over the wires of the world the gladdest message that has 
been enunciated since "peace and good will to man" was 
listened to by the Shepherds in the far-off Orient : 

"LEE HAS SURRENDERED TO GENERAL GRANT I 1" 



82 



AMHERST IN TUE WAR— 1861-65. 



The tJreat and t^lorious consuinination of this terrible five 
years' conflict was thus heralded by the old Cabinet : 

"We have neither space or ability to give our readers any ad- 
equate idea of the tumultuous and universal joy and rejoicing in- 
to which the loyal of our land vv^ere thrown, on Monday, on learn- 
ing of the surrender of General Lee and his Army on Sunday. 
The whole people seemed filled with the intensest feeling of grat- 
itu 'e and praise to God for the crowning victory, and gave ex- 
pression to their feelings in suitable demonstrations. The old 
Hag everywhere floated, canon roared, bells peeled, music float- 
ed, and the voices of an over-joyed people went up to Heaven in 
loud and long huzzas. Business was suspended, public meetings 
held by day, and glowing illuminations by night. It could not 
have been otherwise, — and when the other rebel armies, shall do 
likewise, and all the re<^usant sisterhood return to full allegiance, 
then shall there be such a jubilee in the land as the world has 
never known! and uch, too, as shall make those returning feel 
that they have ,^''6'/ //cwt'/ Father Abe has the calf in fattening, 
and has the father's heart to bid them welcome!'' 

To add to the home joy, tlie veteran, war-woi-n Cahinet 
celebrated the event by enlarging its borders and a partial 
return to its former proportions. 

The following poetical effuvsions, written for the Cahinet, 
are here given as expressive of the joyful, grateful, jubilant 
feeling that pervaded all hearts : 

PRAISE GOD FOR VICTORIKS ACHIEVED. 



Our fathers' God, this day 
Acknowledged be Thy sway, 

O'er this broad land. 
Do Thou accept our praise, 
For all Thy wondrous ways, 
And now, that brighter days 

Are near at hand. 

Proud Richmond lies in dust. 
Our conquering armies just 

Within her walls. 
Secessia's waning power 
Is crumbling hour by hour. 
While traitors writhe and cower 

Within her halls. 



From hill, and vale, and shore, 
Let thundering cannon roar, 

To tell our joy. 
Let bonfires, rising high, 
Illume our Norihern sky, 
That England's eagle eye 

May see our joy. 

And, when this war is o'er, 
Our flag shall nevermore 

Be trailed in dust. 
But interests dear to all 
Shall hold us in their thrall, — 
Our God, on Thee we'll call. 

In Thee we'll trust. 

S. THARESA WASON. 



A^NIHERST rX THE WAR— 186 !-().■). ,s;5 



TIIK FALL OF RICHMOND. 

All ^lorv to the Lord of Hosts, whose arm salvation brings, 
How shall tlie tidings heard tliis day, ring throush the courts of Kings ! 
The strong-holds of oppression fall, when He His arm makes bare, 
And they who fight for trutli and right, FHs wondrous works declare. 

Our victor hosts marched down the streets,* with joyful gallant tread. 
Where latelv strode defiant foes, with proud and lofty ht^ad ; 
From halls wliere tvrants gave command and minions bowed the knee, 
There floats afar the Stripe and Star, that tells all men are free ! 

Now, glory to the Lord of I'osts. who reigns from sea to sea ! 
Like chaff before the whirlwind swift, the recreant traitors flee. 
They, who with sneering, mocking lij), the "'Higher Law" denied. 
And Justice's claims and Mercy's aims, alike with scorn defied — 

Have seen pale want sit in the seats, where once was wealtli and power, 
While those tliey sold as brutes for uold, made their false hearts to cower. 
All glory to the Lord of Hosts 1 tell distant lands the story. 
Our haughty foes the Lord o'erthrows — to Him be all the glory! 

MKS. L. A. OBEAR. 

*A very pleasing circuiiistaiice attending the culmination 
of the Confederacy was the fact that a quartette of our Am- 
herst "boys" cheered the drooping spirits of the "suppress- 
ed" with the enlivening strains of "Yankee Doodlee," and 
the "Star Spangled Banner,"— David Thompson and War- 
ren Russell being of the Band first entering Charleston, and 
J. Appleton Skinner and George W. Russell, of that first to 
enter Richmond— a handsome record for loval old Amherst ! 



But, ALAS ! what a profound mystery still hangs over the 
inscrutable Providence that, ere that week had numbered 
its days, changed this sudden outburst of joy into the deep- 
est depths of gloom, and hung the heavy pall of night over 
all hearts, as, on that black Friday night, there went flash- 
ing and crashing over the wires of the land and the world, 
the startling, astounding report of the assassination of 

']HE FinSlDENT. THE NOTLE AeUAHAM LlNCOLN ! 



84 AMHERST IN THE WAR— 1861-65. 

The draped Cahinet thus reported the reception of the 

sad intelligence in Anilierst : 

" The sad news of the fall of our no))le Chieftain was received 
in our quiet village, as everywhere, with every appropriate dem- 
onstratioa of sorrow. The bells were tolled throughout Satur- 
day, our beautiful flaij hung at half-mast, and distress was depict- 
ed on every countenance. On the .Sabbath the Con ijre •'ational 
Church was heavily draped, and the services opened with a sol- 
emn dirge. A most appropriate and beautiful discourse was giv- 
en by the Pastor, Rev. J. G. Davi'«, f i om 2d Samuel iii. ;^S, 39, — 
"Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this 
day in Israel ? * * I'he I>ord shall reward the doer of evil ac- 
cording to his wickedness." After an affecting al usion to the 
loss of the nation, and the esteem in which the cleparted was held 
as evinced in the great sorrow and gloom that rested on the na- 
tional heart, a beautiful picture was drawn of that life which had 
.so evenly flowed, and so richly, for the healing of the nation dur- 
ing these terrible years of war, and the early training by which 
the good man had been fitted for the crowning work of his use- 
ful and noble life." 

The hour of the martyred President's obsequies was ob- 
served here, and very generally, by fitting public seivices, 
a Union meeting being held at the Congregational Church. 
The choir opened the service with, ''Cast thy burden on the 
Lord," &c. Appropriate Scriptures were then read and ten- 
der prayer offered by Rev. J. G. Davis ; singing of "God 
moves in a mysterious way," &c. ; prayer and appropriate 
ad<hess by Rev. Mr. Baskwell, of the Baptist Church, fol- 
lowed by timely words by Dea. B. B. David, Geo. A. Rams- 
dell, Esq. and Edward D. Boylston, the last of whom said: 

"Lincoln is dp:.\d !" The sad announcement has doubly 
draped all hearts in gloom and sorrow. Be it mine to ad- 
nnnister consolation, and relief to the gloom, rather than 
add poignancy to the universal grief, 

"Lincoln has fallen by the assassin's hand ! But, let us 
remember that, "not a sparrow falleth to the ground with- 
out our Father." The same Hand that raised up Abraham 
Lincoln, and gave him for a leader and commander to the 
people at sucli a time as this, has, with no less wise and be- 



AMHERST IN THE WAR— ISdl-Go. 85 

iievolent design, removed him ; and it becomes us, as a na- 
tion and individually, to bow in humble resignation to the 
Divine purpose and will. "Be still ! and know that T am 
God !" Clouds and darkness of awful depths are round the 
Throne,— but Justice and Judgment still sit thereon ! 

Let us trust Goi; ! — the one great lesson of the hour, 
of the war. How often has the arm of tlesh failed us — but 
God never ! Through six troubles tie has safely brought 
us, and in the seventh will not fail us, if we trust Him ! 

God's ways are His own! Moses was to .s^e the Prom- 
ised Land but not to enter it. His work was done in the 
wilderness. God knows through w hat a wilderness Lin- 
coln has led the people ; and how He took him up to Nebo 
ami shew him the goodly land the people were to possess ; 
and then gathered him, awfully, mysteriously, to his people. 
His work was done, — his mission ended. 

Lincoln is dead — but God lives ! The leader whom 
His Providence has placed at the head of the nation, shall 
be alike at His control, and accomplish His purposes. The 
land in rebellion shall be subdued. Not one of God's pur- 
poses shall fail. Ini(piity shall yet hide its head, — and our 
nation, purified as by fire, shall, in His hand, fulfill its high 
destiny, and become the glory of the ivhole earth! Thank 
God for Abraham Lincoln ! 

DIRGE for the DEAD. 

I 

Weep Columbia ! Weep thy son ! 
Weep thy second Washington ! 
Weep the noble and the brave ! 
Weep, O Land he died to save ! 

2 

Murderous hand hath done the deed. — 
God allowed it to succeed. 
O Columbia, trust His power 
In this dark and dreadful hour ! 

3 
Grateful be, that life so pure 
Was, through Him, so long secure, 
Till that life's work had been done. 
And God's purpose in it won. 



Sn AMHERST IN THE WAR— 1861-65. 



4 
At the noble Lincoln's word, 
As God's double-cutting sword, 
Slavery, Columbia's stain, 
Lies, like him, among the slain. 

5 
Hear him to a martyr's tomb ! 
His the glory ! ours the gloom ; 
History's page doth nowhere keep 
Such bright glory ! gloom so deep ! 

6 

Weep, Columbia, weep the brave ! 
Shed warm tears o'er Lincoln's grave; 
Like bright stars of purest light 
Shine his deeds in this our night ! 

7 
Scatter garlands on his breast ! 
Rest, proud Lincoln, sweetly rest I 
Gem his name with stars of light ! 
Hang it ever in our sight ! 



Patriot, Statesman, Martyred Dead, 
For us thy noble blood was shed ! 
Heaven accept the sacrifice, 
Bid us from the dust arise ! E. D. B. 

At the close the choir sang, with tender effect, "Rest, 
spirit, rest !" The chnrch was heavily and tastefully drap- 
ed. Previous to the hour minute guns were fired and bells 
tolled. The houses upon the Common were very generally 
draped, men of all parties, creeds and classes, united heart- 
ily in these demonstrations of sorrow. It is remembered, 
and repeated to the houor of one not of his party, that he 
took from his neck a black silk kerchief and hung it on the 
door of his shop, personally engaging in firing minute guns. 



AMHERST IX THE WAR— 1861-65. sy 

June 4th, General Grant issued a Proclatnation addressed 
"to the Soldiers of the Armies of the ITnir.ed States," say- 
ing — "by your s^lorious achieveiueiits the ruion is saved — 
the Constitution sustained — Slavery overthrown — the way 
opened for the rightful authorities to restore peace a.id or- 
der in all the land — and that soon they v\'ould be permitted 
to return to their homes, conscious of having discharged the 
highest duties of American citizens, with results that dim 
the laurels of the world's past military achievements." 

Soon after this, one after another, the different Ai-my 
Corps were mustered ont, and the brave remnants left re- 
turned to their homes and avocations, to share and enjoy 
the protection of "Old Glory" so gloriously redeemed, and 
within the sheltering of the restored Union ! 

ESTO PFRPETUA I 

Through all these lingering years of conflict a most noble 
part was I oi-ne by the Ladies of this patriotic town, ever 
unceasing and untiring to do "what they could" to aid the 
noble defenders of the Union ; and when the war had ceas- 
ed, and there no longer came np cries from the bloody fields 
of strife, they heard the cries of impoverished mothers, sis- 
ters, children in the restored South, and in November of 
that year, re-organized as the "Ladies' Charitable Society," 
in aid of the American Union Commission, — with the fol- 
lowing as its initial Board of Officers : 

Mrs. J. G. Davis, Pres't. Mrs. Charles Richardson, Misses 
Mrs. H. E. Abbott, Sec. E. F. M'Alvin, L. F. Boylston, E. 
Miss L. R. Clark, Treas. David, L. Myrick, Directors. 

The following was the closing report of the "Amherst 

Soldiers' Aid and Home Relief Society" . 

In closing the operations of Amherst Soldiers' Aid and Home 
Relief Society, formed in 1861, the Treasurer submits the follow- 
ing summary of money received, and appropriations made, dur- 



88 AMHERST IN THE WAR— 1861-f)5. 

ing the four years of its existence : Total of funds obtained from 
membership, donations, levees, and collections at weekly meet- 
ings, $817.90. Total of appropriations made through the sanita- 
ry and Christian Commissions, and other channels, $1286.35, ^^' 
ing an excess above the receipts of $568.45. This excess was de- 
rived from the estimated value of labor, individual gifts of cloth- 
ing, and various other Hospital comforts. 

In disbanding this Association, a balance of $50.75 remains in 
the treasury. Of this sum the late Board of Directors, rejoicing 
that their special work is completed, have presented to the Sec- 
retary of the New-Hampshire Missionary society $30.80 for dis- 
tribution in his he d of service. The balance, $19.71 is appropri- 
ated to Home Relief. But patriotism and philanthrophy will still 
find an opportunity for action in the issues of the late war. Sym- 
pathy must not sleep, industry must not tire, while a Freedman 
remains uncared for. or a loyal Refugee seeks protection from a 
Southern foe. Thus resolved, the ladies of Amherst form a new 
organization for benevolent labor, having for its name — "I HE 
Ladies Charitable Association, — to which, it is hoped, will 
be transferred the liberality and untiring zeal which marked the 
operations of the Soldiers' Aid Society. L. R. Clark. 

Amherst, Nov. 18, 1865. 

■ -^-(rsK£j^^;^:,2^:^ir2) ^r- 

Thus, iniiuitely as bis means and opportunities would per- 
mit, has the author and compiler of this home-sketch endeav- 
ored to place upon lasting record the part the old Town of 
Amherst acted and enacted in the Great National Conflict 
to restore and save the Union, from the firing upon Sumter, 
to the surrender of Lee,— with puipose of justice to all and 
unkindness to none but inveterate traitors. Like the record 
of the noble Fathers of the Revolution, it is one of which 
we may well l^e proud, and thus pass to posterity with a 
glow of satisfaction. 

It remains but to record some of the outgrowths of the 
Great Conflict in their local relations. 




'J^ 



o 




u 









^^■J^^lilJ/^^J^ll 




TOWN EXFENEITURES 



AND 



ROSTER □FAMHERST SDLEIERS, 




1)2 



AMIIEHSr IX rilK WAR— IHCl-Or). 



( osr OF rilK WAH. 



The whole amount of money paid out l)y the Town of 
Amherst as war expenses was $40,606 08. Of this sum the 
Town received from the State and General (Government, as 
bounties, i|9.89J) 00. Also, the sum of «.S.:5-2J) 66 fiom the 
State, being the a'uount paid <Mit to Soldiers' fannlies dur- 
ing the war. Making the actual cost of the war, in nionev, 



to the town 



$2B.337 42. 



'J'he following is a record of the heavy amounts paid l>y 
citizens for substitutes, many, if not most, of whom proved 
worthless, deserting before or after reaching the field. As 
})efore mentioned, these sums were largely refunded to the 
individuals bv the Town : 



Frank Hartshorn ij^lOOO 

Chester Shipley lOOO 

Charles E. Gra,"ter lOlO 

llollis E. Abbott 1010 

George W. TTpham lOlO 

Albert A. Rotch 1025 

John F. Whiting .OoO 

Luther Coggin. Jr. 1100 



Joseph P. Tiow ii!lo:35 

Ebenezer Jacpiith 103.") 

Asa Ja(iuith, Jr. 1080 

Noah P. Batchelder 1050 

John Fletcher 1050 

William ^Nlelendy 1175 

Andrew F. Sawyer 1025 



AMIIKKST IX TlIK WAIJ— isip.-r,:). 



!I5 




ROSTER OF AMFIERST SOLDIERS. 



The llii-ee-iuoiitlis' men, that went to Fort Constitution, 

l*ortsinoiitli Ilarltor, in Capt. (iillis' Company, April I4th, 

18(51. were : 

Jesse Barrett, 

Taylor W. Blunt, 

Rodney W. Burdick, 

rloseph F. Cady, 

I'rank Chickeriug, 

James B. David, 

John M I'ox, 

(ieorge Washington George, 

George P. (xriswold, 

Rue I G. Manning, 

Alfred L. Moor, 

(ieorge W. Russell, 

William W. Savvtelle, 

Newton T. Hartshorn 

(See page 14, and Frontispiece oi: this volume.) 




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S^i'edted by tlie ^owii, 




LIBERTY 

POINTING TO ITS ROLL CF HONOR. 



i\AMP:s OF 

Soldiiis Jy:lll(^d, (If <!<(■( ((S(/(l (If 
;letio)i of. (iri<] irisvrilx (I nixni 
lilt 2J on 1(711 e)if. 

u^illiam \v. 8 awt el lk, 
Jamks W. Paterson, 
FiEiELi) FJ. ^Irsser, 

IIeNHY S OliEK. 

Thomas L. Gillpatrick, 
Charles II. Phflps, 
(tEurge Vose, 
John L. Kendall, 
Charles A. Damon, 
William Frw, 
Edwin Ben den, 
Joseph F. Johnson, 
Cr'ARLE^ A. B. Hall, 
flAMEs Blanch ARD, 
Samuel Corliss, 
(tEORGE Briggs Sloan. 
Eli S. Gutterson, 
Robert Gray, 
(tEorge a. AIcCluhe, 
George A. Pedrick, 
John N, ]\rACE, 
Charles S. Parkhurst. 
Lykan B, Sawtelle, 
Martin P. Weston, 
Frank H. Holt. 



Inscriptnn upon thp. Tablet, 



IN HONOR OF 



OUR CITIZEN SOLDIERS, 



18G1-65. 



William W. Sawtelle, 2d Reg't 
James W. Patterson, " " 
Filield H. Messer, 
Henry S. Ober, 4th " 

Thomas L. Gilpatrick, " ' 
Charles H. Phelps, 5th " 
Edward Vose, " " 

John L. Kendall, " " 

Charles A. Damon, " " 
William Few, 
Edwin Benden, 
Joseph F. Johnson, 
Albert Noyes, 
Charles A. B. Hall, 



7 th 
8th 



9th 



James Blanchard, loth Reg't. 
Samuel Corlis, " " 

George B. Sloan, " " 
Eli S. Gutterson, " " 
Robert Gray, " " 

George A. McCluer, " " 

George A. Pedrick, " " 
John N. Mace, 
Chas. S. Parkhurst, " 
Lyman B. Sawtelle, " " 
Martin P. Weston, ist Reg't. 

N. H. Heavy Artillery. 
Frank fl. Holt, 47th Penn. 



ERECTED, I871, 

RY THE TOWN OF AMHERST, 
ASSISTED KY A LEGACY 

FROM 
AARON LAWRENCE, ES(). 



^-^0^ 



<^ 



0toi'y of tl\e }d;or\tiinei\t. 




Man's noblest monument is his noble deeds. 
To live for others is meritouous, — to die, noble. 
Good deeds demand gratitude, — noble deeds, lasting and grate- 
ful commemoration. 



The genesis of the liaiidsome Mominieiit erected b}- the 
Town of Amherst, to commemorate her noble and heroic 
Sons ^A4lo fought, and, especially those who fell, in tiie late 
great National Conflict, is found in the genei-ous provision 
in the will of the late Dea, Aaron Lawrence, who deceased 
September 1, 1867. 

March 10, 1868, the Town apppropriated the sum of >^o(»0 
for a Soldiers' Monument, and chose a Committee to act in 
the matter, in connection with the executors named in said 
^N'ill, consisting of the Board of Selectmen. 

May 80, 1869, the Selectmen appointed Harrison Eaton, 
Esq. a Committee on construction of a Soldiers' Monument. 

August 9, 1870, J. Byron Fay, Edward D. Boylston and 
Charles Richardson were appointed a Committee on plans 
and estimates, and reported a plan. :ind v^KHKi as the esti- 
mated cost of its erection. 



M4 



AMHERST IX THE WAR— 1861-65. 



March 14, 187J, Harrison Eaton, J, Byron Fay and John 
F. Whiting were authorized to locate and erect a Sokliers' 
Monument, without instructions, and $3000 appropriated in 
addition to the Lawrence leoacv. 




AARON LAWRENCE. 

The Monument was erected in the Summer and Fall of 
the year 1871 ; the bi'onze figure of a Soldier surmounting 
the shaft, placed in position Dec. 0th, of that year. The 
base and curbing were quarried from a boulder upon the 
farm of the late Capt. Levi J. Secomb, and delivered upon 
the ground, in the rough, by Mr. Wm. A. ]\Iack, — (a heavy 



AMllKKST rX THE AVAIL K).' 

and ditficult work) and arc liandsoine s|i(^eiiiieiis of tlietinc 
granite wiMi which the liills of Andierst abound. Tlie lo- 
catioi- was d'^.tenui I':' I by the coinniittec. and well-chosen 
for the purpose, besides having a niiliiary record of its own 
as the training ground of the famed "Old West," back into 
the eighteenth century — a company of brave men, who did 
brilliant duty in man\ a s//r/?/i-tight, but who never saw a 
real one, or dreamed that their appointed training-ground 
would, within the nineteenth centuiy, be rendered historic 
by the erection thereupon of a Monument to their own de- 
scendants fallen in bloody strife. 

The Monument and grading of the surroundings were 
completed in the Spring of 1872 ; and May 31st, that year, 
the Town, at a special meeting called to act thereon, voted, 
47 to 42, not to dedicate the Monument. At a second spec- 
ial meeting, June IVth, a vote was secured to dedicate ; but 
ihrough differences of opinion, but mainly political animos- 
ity, no provision was made therefor, and to the discredit of 
the tow^n, the formal dedication of the worthy ^Monument 
for years neglected. 

March, 1890, the town voted to dedicate the monuments 
June 19th, in connection with the lie-Union of the Veter- 
ans of the 10th X. H. Regiment, and appropriated the sum 
of f*300 for the expenses of the Re-Vnion and Dedication. 

The occasion brought together a great concourse of peo- 
ple from the surrounding town?, and the exercises of the ded- 
ication w^ere of a high order. 

The day was creditable to lovely June, and all that could 
have been desired. The citizens were in it, — nearly all the 
houses in the village were decorated, — and the streets liter- 
ally thronged. The day w^as opened with a Concert from 
the Speakers' stand, by the Milford Band. At 10, the Vet- 
erans of the loth w^e re received, coming from Milford, l)vthe 



100 



AMHERST IN THE WAR. 



Band and Posts, and escorted to the Engine horise, passing 
the line of School children, dressed in white, representing- 
the States, waving flaglets as they passed. At the Engine 




HARRISON EATON. 

honse tlie line was formed as follows : 

Chief Marshal — James U. Prince 
Aids — A. F. Sawyer, Harry Wilkins. 
Milford Cornet Band, C. H. Higgins, Leader. 
Charles 11. Fhclp.-^ Post, G. A. R., Amherst— James R. Steams, Com- 
mander. 
J. O. Foster, drum corps, Nashua. 
Tenth Regiment, N. H V., Gen. Donohoe in command. 



TTIK MOXIMKNT. 107 

'Di- inaivli \v:is then taken to the residence of Mv ^V. \\. 
Moivlu where the (lovernor and wife. Orator. President of 
the <lay. and other invited guests were assembled, and from 
there marclicd direct'y to the speakers' stand, where the 
great mass of people had assembled. After a fexv moments 
spent in words of greeting and congratulation to tJie Govern- 
or. Ilex. Dr. Davis, President of the day, called the assembly 
t<» order, and the children sang the following original hvmn 
by the poet of the day, led by Mrs. Shaffer with her cornet: 

Vet'rans of war, welcome to-day ! 

Welcome, all hearts rejoice to say ! 

Welcome , brave men. who for us fought 

In early days that we knew not, 

x\nd for us won the blessings which 

Now crown our lives, so free, so rich 

Vet'rans of war ! our flags we wave 

To welcome you, ye lirave ! ye brave ! 

Vet'rans of war, your valor won 
The conquests that preserved us one. 
Vou, and your noble comrades coo, 
Shall share our love till life is through : 
Vour valor be as guiding star 
To lead to vict'ry in life's war, 
Vet'rans of war ! our flags we wave 
To welcome you, ye brave ! ye brave ! 

Prayer was then offered by the Rev. Alfred J, McCJown. 
Pastor of the Congregational Church, 

The address of welcome was by the President," the Pew 
Dr. Josiah G. Davis, who spoke as follows. 

Ladies and Gentlemen : — At the request of the Committee uf Ar- 
rangements and members of the Phelps Post. I venture to take pnrt iu 
the exercises of this day. The lamented death of our esteemed towns- 
man, Capt. Thomas M. ffarvell at whose suggestion the Tenth Rce:!- 



JOS AMHERST [X THE WAR. 

ment of N H. Veterans were invited to hold their annual reunion 
here, and the enforced absence of our trusted citizen. Albert A. Rotch, 
Esq. from whom we expected important assistance, lent an emphasis 
to the call which could not be put aside. 

Veterans of the Tenth Regiment and Veterans of the Third, Fourth, 
Fifth, Eighth and Ninth regiments of New Hampshire on this 'wenty- 
tifth anniversary of your return home from the war, I salute you. I 
bid you welcome T bid you welcome to the quiet streets and shaded 
homes and the patriotic greetings of our people. We are glad to see 
your faces, to look upon th • men who proved faith ul in the hour of 
peril, and to express our gratitude for services by which vou became 
our benefactors We desire to keep alive the memories of what you 
did as soldiers, to recognize the benefits wrought out for us and for 
those who will cjme after us. 

We welcome yoa to a participation in the ser\'ices by which we hal- 
low the names of your fallen comrades and give utterance to our hon- 
est reverence for the men who survive. Ii is becoming that you should 
join us in recounting the story which in ils simplest outline stirs the 
blood like a trnmpet It is fitting that you shonld witness and have 
voice in the ceremonial by which we dedicate this momument to the 
memory of those who gave the supreme testimony of their devotion to 
the republic. 

The simple structure is before vou. On its granite Imse stands in 
bronze a soldier from the ranks. Elsewhere will be seen pillars and 
statues and sky-piercing shafts commemorative of statesmen and 
warriors, commanders military and naval, whose fame is co-extensive 
with the country they served. Ours is a modester memorial, but not 
less worthy We honor a consecration which all may emulate, and a 
self-forgetting courage without which the nation had perished 

What a vindication of of her loyalty ! What a manifestation of in- 
telligence in the comprehension of great political issues, in that up- 
ri.'-ing of the people from Maine to Minnesota, - that response from 
farm and factory from shop and school, which swelled the ranks of the 
New Hampshire regiments ! In the enthusiasm of that hour me>i did 
not count their lives dear unto them. The flag had been insulted, the 
government defied, and duty was plain. The spirit of '76 reappeared 
and our young men went to the front. Their conduct in the tield 
maintained the ancestral standard of endurance and valor. The value 
of their services as a part of the great conflict which saved the Union 
cannot be stated. It may be well that we have waited till nineteen 
years should inform and clear our judgments before this dedication. 
No harm shall follow the delay which enables us to discover a Divine 
design, and to shape its interpretation by the events God has ordained. 
The nation is not divided. We have one country, and liberty and 
union shall be the sources of our strength. 



THE MOXUMEXT. Ill 

When Washington died, near the close of the last century, the ex- 
pressions of sorrow were universal; pulpits were draped in black • 
sermons, eulogies and orations set forth the merits of the great com- 
mander. No language seemed adequate to express the sense of loss. 
Orators were profuse in their laudation, and their epithets invested 
him with superhuman qualities ; but his great services and greater 
magnanimity were not understood so fully then as they are to-day. 
In that sad hour men could not compass the grand results of his wis- 
dom and valor as they exist at the close of a century. 

So in the estimate of our citizen soldiery. We knew the young 
men as they enlisted — some from love of adventure, some from am"- 
bition, most from sense of duty, and all animated by the patriotic zeal 
which glowed in the hearts of our sturdy yeomanry. We followed 
them to the field with yearning solicitude, with prayers and sympa- 
thetic attentions. We shared in their struggles with hardship and 
disease, studied the war bulletins, rejoicing in their victories and de- 
ploring their defeats. How mothers, sisters wives, sought to allevi- 
ate their wants and comfort them in their distresses! And when they 
came home, how the glad hearts of rejoicing neighborhoods went out 
to them. With what pious care and large expense we sought out the 
remains of those who died in battle, — the headstone forwarded to the 
far-off grave, or the corpse brought hither to rest with kindred dust. 
How te.ider our thoughts as we stood by those open graves ! Out of 
such affection, the grateful hearts of a patriotic population demand- 
ing expression, this monument arose. We must carve the names of 
our gallant dead in enduring bronze; their memorial must stand in 
the midst of highways to be seen and read of all. 

Had the dedication been made ihen, the ceremonial would have re- 
ceived tone and direction from personal attachments, from the pref- 
erences of family and kindred. It would have been honest and heart- 
felt, more tetider than at this hour, when so many have joined the 
silent ranks, but it would not have been so just, so well considered, so 
profoundly approved. Our thoughts would have been chiefly of the 
dead, not of the cause that sanctified their sacrifice. We should have 
said more of the cost, less of the immeasurable gains. 

_ Veterans of the Tenth and the earlier regiments now present, sur- 
vivors of that unavoidable conflict, be assured that as the years move- 
onward, as generations are removed from che prejudices, the partisan 
coloring, and crude judgments of this century, the magnitude and 
worth of what you did for human rights, for freedom under law and 
the permanence of republican institutions, will grow in men's minds 
to marvellous proportions. Does not every month bring fresh testi- 
monies to the value of the Union? Can you look on the flag for which 
you fought, with its stars multiplying in number and brightness, with- 
out exulting thoughts of the grandeur and sacredness of the interests 
it protects ? 



110 AMIIEIJST IX THE WAR. 

I am not insensible to the sacrifices demanded by the loyal cause. 
I do not cease to moin-n the young men fallen on the high places of 
the land. They died contending for the right, and posterity will hold 
their deeds in proud remembrance. 

[\) the soldiers dying on the field, we apply the apostrophe to death 
which Halleck pronounces over the fallen cliieftain : 

Hut to tlie hero, when his sword 
Hath won the battles of the free. 
Thy voice sounds like a prophet's word. 

And in its lioilow tones are heard 
The tlianks ot millions yet to be. 

Friends, Veterans, our guests : We welcome you to Amherst, 
and to its histoiic recollections We vvelcome you to the fellowship 
and interchanges of loyal minds and the entertainments in reserve. 

(Jen. M. T. I )onohoe, president of the Tenth Regiment \Vt- 
eran Association, resjionded gracefully in behalf of his com- 
rades. 

Lieut. Wm. 1). Stearns, of AVilton, who spolce in behalf of the 
Second, Third and Fourth regiments, was introduced as an 
Amherst boy. remembered for his scholarly habits and subjection 
to rules thirty-five years ago, who has done good service since 
as a soldier and citizen. Mr. Stearns did not speak of his own 
reeord, which was most creditable to his courage and fidelity, 
being wounded at, IJei-mnda Ilundi-ed. \"a.. after severe service 
in the Carol in as. 

Col, Chas. K. Ihqtgood was introduced bv the president as 
the young mercliant, of the firm of llapgood & Abbott, about 
whom many of our young men rallied, ready to enter the service 
if Hai^good would be their Captain. 

Col. Hapgood responded at length for the ''Fighting Fifth," 
and in resonant tones called the names of the Amherst boys 
one by one, and paid a handsome tribute to their memory- 
Col. W. II. D. Cochrane responded handsomly for the Tenth 
Regiment, and gave the noble record of the thirty-five Andierst 
men who served therein — and Col. James B. I)avid handsomely 
responded for the N. II, Battery and Heavy Artillery. 

Dr. John H. Clark, Naval Surgeon, was expected to respond 
for the Xavv, but was ordered to sea on the Baltimore, 



THE MONUMENT. 



1]1 



DEDICATION SERVICE. 



The President intrdouced it by saying that -of tlie ]()."» 
men who enlisted from Amherst, 27 were killed, or died of 
their wounds, and an e([iial number were seriously disabled, 
is it not becoming that a Moinuneut be dedicated to their 




. fewi Airftf 




]OHN F. WHITINMi. 

memoiyV" AMien the responsive cheering liad ceased, Mr. 
John F. ^Viiiting. of Wakefield, Mass., tlie surviving mem- 
ber of the Building Committee, came forward, and in abrief 
achlress. formally delivered the ]\Ionument to Mr. William 



112 AMITKHST IN THE WAR. 

Pratt, Chairiiiaii of the Selectmen. Mr. \^'hTtillo• alluded to 
his associates on the Committee, Hon. Harrison Eaton and 
Lt. J. Byron Fay, whose removal by death is widely lament- 
ed, with much feeling. The Monument was erected in 1871, 
at the cost of $4100, |1000 being a bequest of the late Aaron 
Lawi'ence. The base and edsre-stones are of Amherst o-ran- 
ite ; the bronze figure, a Soldier at parade rest, was cast by 
the Ames Manufacturing Co., Chicopee, Ms. Of the quali- 
ty of the work, the Monument itseslf affords the best evi- 
dence. There it is — examine it." 

Mr. Pratt, on receiving the presentation papers, expressed 
his satisfaction with the work and the services of the Com- 
mittee. In taking this memorial of our deceased soldiers 
into the keeping of the town, he pledged the honor of its 
citizens to guard and preserve it as a sacred trust. 

The President then introduced Dea. E. I). Boylston, the 
familar "E. D. B.'^ of the Cabinet, who read the following 

P O E jNI . 

Whe Israel stood upon the shore 

Of Jordan, safely passed o'er, 

And viewed the wondrous Providence 

'ihat marked their way from Egypt thence, — 

Their flight by night ; the overthrow 

Of threatening hosts and Pharaoh : 

The awful wilderness, now passed. 

And Canaan attained at last, — 

A monument of stones they raise. 

That shall attest these wondrous ways 

By which the Lord had led them on 

Until the promised land was won. 

Alike the Israelites of old, 

We passed a fearful wilderness, 
And trials yet a half untold, 

To reach the border-land of Peace. 
Rebellion's base and tattered flag, 

Trailed in the dust, and hid away ; 
"Old Glory" proudly waving on, 

Our nation one for aye, for aye. 



THE MONUMENT. 11-5 

And when, like Israel on the shore, 
We viewed our trials o'er and o'er, 
(.Jur heavy losses, heavier griefs, 
We fou d in this a sweet relief : 
God is supreme ! His ways are rii^/it ! 
His hand led us by day and night. 
As it led Israel, till it brought 
Us to the Canaan that we sought. 

Then sang we, Miriam-like, a song 
To Him who had dethroned the wrong : 
And, Israel-like, with same intent, 
Took stones and built this monument, 
That should attest, to latest days, 
God's guiding hand and wondrous ways, 
And debt we owe to Him, and those 
By whom He overthrew our foes. 

A score of years, well-nigh, have fled. 

And here has stood this monument, 
Inscribed to our noble dead. 

With pnrest, noblest of intent ; 
Yet to that worthy end ne'er given 

In fitting form of act and word. 
Forgive our past neglect, kind Heaven, 

And lee our prayers to-day be heard. 

Wa blush with shame, and come to atone 
For past neglect and coldness shown. 
With hearts that beat for Union strong. 
That love the right, and hate the wrong, 
That know no North, South, East or West 
But would that all alike be blest, 
With purpose of pure patriotism, 
With song, address, and words of rythm 
With flags afloat, and beat of drum. 
And solemn prayer to Heaven, we come 
This Monument to dedicate 
To cause that's holy — heroes great. 

Kindly, Heaven, hear our prayer, 

Accept the offering of to-day 
May the memories of the past 

Round it, as the sunbeams, play 
Ever may it stand to tell 

Of the noble names it bears : 



II 4 AMHERST IN THE WAE. 

And attest our love, as well, 

For the proud old Stripes and Stars. 

Sleep on, entabled dead, sleep on ! 

Wheie'er thy resting place may be. 
This monument and tablet fair 

Shall tell a noble tale of thee. 
When generations yet unborn 

Shalt wreathe it on Memorial Day, 
A holy lesson they shall learn, 

As truly as to-day we may. 

All honor to their brave compeers, 

The living, and those in the grave ; 
Who served us well those bloody years. 

Upon the land, and on the wave. 
All honor to the sainted one, 

(His name alike deserves recall,) 
Whose noble gift impelled us on 

To rear this fair memorial. 

Holy Father, by Thy hand 

Onward to this hour brought, 
Still a prospered, happy land. 

Help us praise Thee as we ought. 
Thine the glory, — for Thy arm, 

Not our own, our victories won ; 
Shield us evermore from harm. 

Make us, keep us Thine, and one. 

Give our nation holy aim. 

Holy purpose, as Thine own ; 
And upon our roll of fame. 

With these, other names entwine, 
Great e'en as our Washington, 

True e'en as our Lincoln, Grant ; 
Truth and Justice here enthrone, 

And with Right all Wrong supplant. 

History, sacred and profane. 
Attests that war is never gain. 
Only through "abounding peace" 
May we hope for safe increase. 
Never of us be it true 
That we Israel's foibles knew : 
Proud Judah vexing Ephraim, 
Resentful Ephraim vexing him. 



TIE MONUMENT. 115 

Be it ours, each in his lot, 

To dwell in peace, all wrong forgot. 

To cKvel! beneath the Almighty's care, 

The smiles of Heaven ever share ; 

Our iiag, the emblem of the free, 

Honored memorial ever be 

That Heaven regardeth with delight 

The just, the true the brave, the right. 

Should Rebellion e'er awake, 

And --gain the nation shake. 

Should unholy hands assail 

The dear Old Flag, seek it to trail, — 

Cast contempt upon our laws. 

Strew with wrecks our seas and shores, — 

Let us to same refuge flee, 

Father, help us trust in Thee. 

Heroes come not all of war. 

Peaceful life hath many more. 

Tnicst hero is the man 

Who, where he is, does what he ean ! 

Monuments shall crumble into dust. 

Proud tablets be consumed by rust, 

Put this memorial, Heaven won. 

Proudly ever shall live on : 

" IVithiii her sphere she fearless stood, 

Heroine — doing zvhai she could T 

Heaven help us, honor bright, 

Each the hero's part to bear ; 
E'er contending for the right 

Where the thickest dangers are. 
True to duty in the home. 

True in all of life's estate, 
Bravely doing what we can, 

Heaven will own us heroes great 



AMHKHST IN THE WAR. 

l\p\-. S. L. (ieiould. of Hollis, a comrade of the G. A. K.. 
tlirii made tlie Dedicatory Prayer, using its ritual : 

"Almiglity (iod, we tliaid\ Thee for Thy sovereign caie 
and protection, in that Tliou didst lead us in the days that 
were shadowed with trouble, and gavest us strengih wlicu 
tlie burden was heavy upon us, and gavest us couiage and 
guidance, so that after the conflict, we have come to these 
days of peace. We thank Thee that the wratli of war lias 
been stilled, that brother no longer strives against brothei-, 
that once again we have one country aud one flag. iNIay Thy 
blessing be upon u^ as a people, that we may be I'hy peojile, 
true and righteous in all wa\s, tender and patient in our 
charity, though resolute for the right ; careful more for the 
down-trodden than for ourselves; eager to forwa.id the inter- 
est of every citizen throughout the land, so that oui' country 
may indeed be one i30untry from the rivers to the seas, fi'om 
the mountains to the plains. AA'e pray Thee to luake our 
memories steadfast, that we may never forget the gen- 
eious saciiflces for our country. May our dead be enshrin- 
ed in our hearts. ]\Iay their graves V)e the altars of our grate- 
ful and reverential patriotism. 

And now, God. bless Thou this memorial! Bless it. () 
(iod, in honor of mothers, who bade their sons do brave 
deeds ; in honor of wives, who wept for husbands who should 
never conie bach again ; in honor of children, whose hei'it- 
age is their fallen father's heroic name ; in honor of men 
and women who nraiistered to the hurt and dying ; but 
chiefly, () (iiod, in honor of men who counted not their lives 
dear when their country needed them, of those alil?e who 
sleep beside tlie dust of theii' kindred, or under the sea, or 
in nameless graves, where only Thine angels stand sentinels 
till the reveille of the Resui'i'ection morning. Protect it. 
and let it endure and unto the latest generation may its in- 
fluence be for the education of the citizen, for the honor of 
civil life, for the advancement of the nation, for the bless- 
ing of humanity, and the furtherance of Thy holy kingdom. 

Hear us, O our God, we ask it in the name of Him who 
made proof of the dignity and who consecrated the power of 
sacriflce, in His blessed life and death, even in the name of 
Jesus Christ, the great Captain of our salvation . Amen. 



THE MONUMENT. 117 

Captain James A. Sanborn, of Port.sinouUi. pronounced 
the dedication service : 

''Comrades, attention ! in tlie name of tlie Grand Army 
of the Republic, I now dedicate tliis INIonumentto tlie mem- 
ory of those who fell in defense of tlie flag. T dedicate it to 
tlie memory of tliose who in the army fought for our hill- 
sides and valleys and plains, and fell in defense of the flag. 
T dedicatept to the memory of those brave and gallant men 
of our Army and Navv who, from '61 to '65, left their homes, 
their families, their friends, and everything they held near 
and deal-, buckled on the armor of ^\ ar, and went forth to 
do battle in defense of the Nation's honor, that the Nation 
might live, and fell in defense of the flag. Comrades, salute 
our dead !'" 

The great assembly then united in singing Watts' version 
of the 78th Psa m, to the tune of Dedham, led by Henry O. 
Aiken, with Mrs. A. A. Ilotch at the Organ : 

bet children hear the mighty deeds 

Which God performed of old, 
Which in our younger years we saw, 

And which our fathers told. 

He bids us make His glories known, 

His words of power and grace ; 
And we'll convey his wonders down 

Through every i ising race. 

( )ur Ups shall tell them to our sons, 

And they again lo theirs ; 
That generations yet unborn 

May teach them to their heirs. 

Thus they shall learn, in God alone 

Their hope securely stands, 
That they may ne'er forget his works, 

And practice his commands. 

The President theu introduced Hon. Charles H. Bartlett, 
of Manchester, the Orator of the day, who for over an hour 
held the closest attention of the great assembly. 

This elo(iuent and happy address was given in full in the 



ILS A^rriEHST IX THE WAK. 

CdJtlnef of June 2()tli, and has since been published with the 
full proceedings of the day, in pamplilet form. The follow- 
ing is its beautiful peroration : 

"We all recognize the fact that a:S the war of the Revolu- 
tion settled the (piestion of national independence, the war 
of the Rebellion settled the question of national unity. The 
great source of national dissansion, of sectional animosity, 
has been forever eradicated. It is no longer "a house divid- 
ed against itself," but with unity of purpose and fraternity 
of feeling, its fast multiplying millions are now coursing 
over the highway of empire, with possibilities limited only 
by the measure of fidelity to true citizenship. 

'•To the cultivation and developement of that citizenship, 
this work directly and most povverfully tends. Monument- 
al columns, heroic statues, and memorial edifices are most 
striking and impressive patriotic literature, literature that 
is read by all beholders, learned and unlearned, a literature 
that is common to all nations and all races of men. To all 
it tells the same story. It addresses itself intelligently to 
every understanding, and awakens common emotions in ev- 
ery heart, in whatever clime the eye falls upon it. 

'•'As a book of histor}^ it is always open and its pages are 
ever exposed to the gaze of mankind. It never slumbers on 
neglected shelves, and the accuiuulating dust of years never 
gathers upon it. The busiest son of toil finds ample oppor- 
tunity to peruse it, and to enrich his understanding by the 
story it impresses upon all, while his soul is ennobled by the 
contemplation of the lofty examples it spreads before him. 
It cannot be monopolized by the rich alone, for it is never 
closed to the poorest and the humblest. It is most honora- 
ble in its authorship no less than in its commemoration of 
noble deeds, and the perpetuation of names "that were not 
born to die," 

"This Monument which rises in your midst, the object of 
such patriotic veneration to all, will not only bear to later 
times the names of the heroic dead indelibly engraved upon 
it, it will not only proclaiui through brazen lips, speaking 
mightily though voiceless, the gospel of liberty, of loyalty, 
and of patriotism to coming generations, but it will ever 



THE MOX r:\IEXT. lU) 

bear most conclusive testimony to the generosity and patri- 
otism of its builders It will tell nor onlv that these men 
gave up their lives for tlieir coimtry and its institutions, hut 
it will declare also that _\ou, for whom this supreme sacii- 
tice was made, were worthy of it. 

"Aud wnen all tht^ hanns that joi.ied in its erection are 
folded upon the pulseless breast, whe]) all who out of their 
substance contributed to its cost shall have struck their tents 
and passed on ; when uj^ and down the face of the laiul, not 
one who bore his part in the war of the great Rebellion shall 
remain among the liviny'. this beautiful work will still stand 
and tell to other generations the story of ancestral glory and 
achievement, and inspire in other heai'ts the same Jieroic 
courage and lofty patriotism it so grandly celebrates." 

At the close of this admiral)le oration, the assembly join- 
ed in singing America, led by the Band : 
"My Country, 'tis of thee." 

Rev. I W. Coombs, of the Baptist church, pronounced the 
benediction. 

The Governor, Veterans, aud other invited guests, under 
escort of the Band, and direction of the Officers of the day, 
marched to the town hall, where all were generously enter- 
tained and dined by the ladies, under diivction of the Com. 
m it tee. 



Early in the Spring of 1872, the Building Committee in- 
tending the formal dedication ot the .Monument on July 4th 
following, extended an invitation to the author of this vol- 
ume to prepare an historical poem for the occasion. The 
occasion failing and the poem having never been made pub- 
lic, is here given, more for its history than its poetry : 



120 AMHERST IN THE WAR. 

HISTDRICfiLPnEM, 

BY E. D BOYLSTON. 

Our Fathers' God! God of the brave ! 
Who brouiht the Pilgrims o'er the wave, 
And gave them all this wid domain 
Of beauteous water, hill and plain, 
With more than all that eye delights, 
Equal laws, and equa'- rights, 
Fair Union and a compact grand. 
The work and pride of their own hand, 
That made them independent, free 
()i every power, O Lord, but Thee. 

Our Fathers' God. Thee we adore. 
For what Thou dids't in days of yore, 
That gave us such high place and worth. 
Among the nations of the earth ; 
That made our flag through all the world 
Respected, honored, where unfurled ; 
Beneath whose folds no foe, no fear. 
Disturbed our peace for many a year. 

Our Fathers' 3od : and ours, too ! 
We tender Thee, the tribute due, 
Of grateful hearts, and joyou-^ lays 
For aid vouchsafed in latter days. 
When proud rebellion raised its hand 
To sever the Union of our land. 
Thine arm. for us was lifted up. 
Though called to drink a bitter cup ! 
Thine arm to us salvation brought. 
And crowned victors those who fought. 
And while with grateful hearts we own 
Thy kindness to our fathers shown. 
And warmest thanks to Thee express 
For succor in our great distress, 
We bow with meekness 'neath Thy rod, 
O, our omniscient, loving God, 
As gathering here, with many a tear 
To honor the dead, to us so dear. 

Thine aid, our fathers' God, and ours. 

We ask in these sad duties, hours. 

As here we come to dedicate 

This work, which shall to latest date, 

With fragrance, sweet as morning dew, 

The tender memories renew 



THE MOXTTMENT. V>4 

Of those who fought and fell that we 
Might still united, happy be. 

Friends, fellow townsmen, congreTats, 
S d tlie occasion, sacred, great, — 
Sad with memories clustering round, ' 

Of loved who sleep beneath the ground. 
Whose very names must ope anew 
The bitter griefs we've passed through. 
Sacred with the duty, love. 
Enjoined on man, by heaven above, 
To give to God the glory due. 
And naught withhold from valor true. 
Great with shadows cast before. 
By issues of that deadly war. 
That mark the nation's future bright 
With sacred Union's cheerful light. 

You ask me here to tune my lyre ! 
Hindoo may sing at funeral pyre. 
But how can I .sing a cheerful song 
Where such sad memories round me throng } 
As there my glancing eye doth fall 
On names of Sawtelle, Benden, Hall, 
Entabled all among the brave 
Who died the nation's life to save ; 
Who shared my board, at my altar kneeled. 
Long time before they took the field, 
And gave me faith that each one true 
Would bravely fight life's battles through ; 
I find my lyre all unstrung 
By grief with which my heart is wrunu', - 
Its strings their cheerful notes refuse. 
As did the harps of captive Jews. 
But when I think /(^r 7vhat they died. 
And /io7v, I scorn with pride 
The weakness of my riven heart. 
And bid its sadness quick depart. 
No song e'er had a nobler theme, 
Although it seemeth as a dream. 
That three, who shared my home so long. 
In s2ic/i a death should claim my song ! 

Ah ! he lives long, and nobly well. 
Who fa Is as that brave trio fell ] 



VJ'2 A^MIIERST IN TOE WAR. 

Nor those alone, but each whose name 
Is read upon our roll of fame. 

The fittest sdeath for age or youth 
Is in defense of right and truth. 
No dearer rights, no higher truth, 
E'er asked defense of age or youth. 
We mourn their loss, but not their fall, 
For halo bright encircles all. 
Bid earth's most gifted hand and pen 
Write noblest eulogy it can. 
And you shall read, "He died for man !" 

Ne'er shall that truth be truer said. 
Than spoken of our noble dead. 
When war's wild tocsin through the land 
Peeled forth its stern and loud command. 
Scorning sweet home's endearments, all 
Nobly, at their Country's call. 
Hasted the deadly foe to meet. 
Scorning the thickest leaden sleet. 
Feeling that death was sweet indeed, 
And wishing for no higher meed. 
If coming through their Country's need. 

I need not here review the strife 
That well-nigh cost the nation's life ; 
How loyal men of treason talked, 
How treason loyal-dressed walked. 
Casting its deadly, upas shade 
In every circle that it made ; 
And, watchfu! of its long-sought hour, 
Seized upon the reins of power. 
Aiming on Sumter's fort the gun 
That roused all loyal men as one. 
Ah, how its echoes woke the Fand ! 
In retrospect the scene how grand ! 
The Loyal men in crowds appear. 
And pltdge their lives and honor dear 
Th:; Union at all cost to save. 
Or die as die the good and brave. 
Scarce had those echoes died away, 
(Ah, who can e'er forget that day,) 
When Lincoln's Proclamation clear 
Woke its wild echoes far and near — 



THE MOXTIMENT. 1_>:5 

Everywhere received with cheers. 

Calline; "seventy-five thousand volnntesrs" 

To fall in line, and for Washington 

Speedily to be a "march ins: on." 

Then there was mustering in hot haste, 

And mothers, children stood aghast, 

And sisters plied the needle swift 

As fathers, brothers did enlist. 

Sad was the parting with our men. 

Who might ne'er return again. 

O, the holy words we said 

As for the noble boys we prayed. 

When from our fond embrace they'd gone. 

And to the field went "marching on !" 

Nor need I tell of the long years, 
That filled our land with grief and tears ; 
Xor all their conflicts here recount, 
Each opening sorrow's sacred fount ; 
Their impress is on every heart, 
Whence it shall never dim, depart. 
Records and relics in ten thousand homes. 
The records on ten thousand tombs. 
Tablets, memorials, monuments, 
In mute, but glowing eloquence, 
Shall speak of the sacrifices made 
Both by the living and the dead ; 
And ever-green the memory keep 
Of the noble dead, who nobly sleep. 

Heavily hung those months and years. 
Full of failures, full of fears. 
Full of changes, full of calms, 
Whence came greatest of alarms — 
Conquer or submit we must, 
"Marching on" was all our trust. 
Fighting neath the Almighty arm 
Could only give us hopeful calm. 
"All, all quiet on the Potomac," — 
How oft it put our hopes a-back ! 

Heavily fell Death's first knell 
At loss of loved, brave Sawtelle 
At parting whose brave words to me 
Were, "Let me either conqueror be, 
"Or ///the flag return to thee !" 



124 AMHEEST IN THE WAE: 

Afjain and again, and O how heavy 
It fell at Death's oft-repeated levy ! 
Sad were made our hearts the night 
We learned of Antietam's bloody fight ; 
Lieutenant George, with one foot gone, 
Dependent rebel care upon. 
Heavier than night's deepest pall 
Did the news from Gettysburg fall, 
Phelps a dying — Damon dead, 
No comrade knowing where he laid. 

How did our hearts beat double quick 
O'er the wounded and the sick ! 
What a pallor came over us all 
When Nichols met a ricochet ball ! 
And all were in a very blue way 
When learning the wounding of Byron Fay. 
How plead we for Heaven's protection when 
That brave and noble son, Benden, 
Was named among imprisoned men ; 
And how for vengeance even pray 
When learning that our faithful Gray 
In Salisbury prison starving lay. 

Did'nt we count him hero and more 
Who, wounded and worn, came from the war, 
And open to him our heart's front door ? 

Well we remember the oft sled-ride, 
To work with a will with those living outside. 
For the "boys in blue," our sons and our pride. 
And how we honored each matron and maid 
Who worked and wrought in the "Soldiers' Aid," 
And shirts, "comforts," prayers for them made, — 
And the Soldiers' blessings poured on each head 
As letter on letter in return was read, 
With the living prayer of many now dead. 

O the sad days when our dead came home 
With kindred dust to sleep in the tomb. 
Tenderly the sleeping heroes we bore 
To the House of God, within whose door 
They oft had come, and there we said 
Our tender words o'er the noble dead. 
And the draped altar, and sad refrain. 
And the scalding tears, that fell like rain. 



THE MONUMENT. 125 

(), how they spoke of the pain and grief 

Of stricken hearts thus seeking relief. 

And he muffled drum, and mournful Pleyel. 

And comrades, bearing arms in trail, 

And the draped flag afloating low. 

And the long procession, sadly slow, 

All told us heroes had marching gone 

To bourne from whence there is never return. 

And as in their open graves they laid, 

Proudly over those graves we said : 

'■'^How sleep the brave ivho sink to rest 

'''■By ttll their Country'' s wishes blest.'''' 

And on their monuments we read 

What each endured in his Country's need ; 

And well they deserve the happy meed, 

' Young men in years, but soldiers old, 

'"When all their battles o'er are told." 

O, with what joy ihe day was hailed 
When Secession vanquished, paled; 
When rebels who sought the nation's life, 
Laid down their arms and quite the strife ; 
And Peace her beautiful wings outspread 
Over our battle-fields strewn with dead, 
Over our homes depleted by strife, 
Over a nation gasping for life, 
Over a Union sought to be riven. 
Over lost hope except in Heaven. 
So welcome the day that ended the strife 
With fears, and tears, and blood so rife. 
It made us half forget the woe 
Through which we had been called to go, 
In the sweet promise that it gave 
That Heaven would the Union save, 
And through the awful "Wilderness," 
Conduct us to a land of Peace. 
Ah ! who did not on that blest day 
Look up to Heaven in thankful way, 
And give to God the glory due, 
Whose arm had brought us safely through ? 

Ah, welcome, indeed, to the boys in blue 
The scene that tells them the strife is through, 



h>i\ AMHERST IX THE WAR. 



When before Rich nond delighted thev see 
Grant coolly accepting surrendei- of Lee. 
Their fightings through, picket no more, 
Camping and drilling all, all o'er, 
War's weary marching all, all done, 
And they for home to go "marching on " 

Happy day, happy day that home again brought 
The living who for us so nobly had fought. 
O sweet to welcome the boys in blue, 
Who to the Union had proved so true. 
Such greetings there were at the old home's door 
Such thank> offered Heaven as never before! 
Language was oh, how frail, how weak, 
When seeking our gratitude to speak 
To the noble ones, so brave and true, 
Who had risked their all for the red, white and blue. 

But. oh, to how many their coming brought 
Anguish of heart afresh at the thought 
That those who went forth, for whom the/ yearn, 
Shall never agiin to them return 
Parents because of loved ones dead, 
In sorrow frjrg tting to eat theii bread ; 
Children and lovers mourning sore like doves, 
Because of returnless, fallen loves ; 
And only consoled by the comforting spell 
That Heaven doeth all things well. 
Ah, how oft the true heroine 
In those sad days among us was seen ! 
Ah, how thus till now, in her loneliness, 
Many such on^^ seeks her tears to repress, 
And comfort draw from the better life 
Of a hero's widow, than a coward's wife. 

Heroes and heroines alike in our lays 
Call for a worthy meed of praise ; 
Each a noble victory achieved. 
Each Heaven s approval sweet received. 
Worthy the father, che mother, the wife, 
Who gave up their loved ones, dearer than life, 
Standing watchfully by the stuff, while they 
Leaped fearlessly into the deadly fray, — 
And Heaven shall own the sacrifice 
As true as his who fights and dies. 



THE IVrONFME.XT. PJ7 

Prouder than Troubador, coming from war, 
("Hir soldier-boys proudly their garlands bore, 

Telling their sufferings had not been in vain 

The cherished old Union to sustain ; 
Telling of a future with glory moie bright 

Succeeding war's dark, dismal night ; 

'I'elling our Union unbroken shall stand, 

Honored, respected in every land ; 

Pledge of the precious promise, too, 

That Freedom hall her strength renew. 

And her proud banner be unfurled, 

In God's time, through all the world ! 

As God's armies go "marching on," 

With new conquests by them won. 

Oppression everywhere shall hear 

His proclamation, loud and clear : 

•'Tyrants — let my people go ! 

"My Freedom all of Earth shall know !" 

Mighty struggles must be had. 
That shall strongest hearts make sad, 
That shall fill with awful throes 
Lands where dwell God's mightiest foes. 
Btitfrom bloody scenes and Jire 
Liberty shall ne\'r retire ! 
Commissioned by Heaven's High King 
All the world to Him to bring. 
In His time, and Earth shall be 
From war and all oppression free ; 
Swords to plow-shares shall be beat, 
And spears to pruning-hooks, as meet ; 
Earth share from strife a sweet release 

And man with man shall dwell in peace 

Earth Rebellion know no more, 
All hearts God and Heaven adore ! 

And here I pause, to name with pride 
The noble sons who for us died. 
Noble record ! noble dead ! 
Holy ground on which we tread ! 
The noble sacrifice they made 
Demands the tribute we have paid ; 
Yea, more, demands in truth of me 
That not a name unsung should be, 
Demands perpetual recall. 
And noblest honors of us all. 



128 AMHERST IN THE WAR. 



Then let me duty ask of you, 

As here these names I now review. 

Heautiful thought the graves to adorn 
Of those whose val r our hearts have won. 
When Spring birds chant their sweet May-lays 
Over our cherished Soldiers' grave ^,, 
And floral Nature decks the fields, 
Bear thither richest that she yields, 

With your choicest garlands grace 
Each brave son's last resting place ; 
Bring sweet flowers of every hue. 
But entwine "red, white and blue." 

With the fragrance that they shed 
O'er the biave and honored dead, 
Perfume sweeter than the rose 
Risas from their blest repose. 

Wave, old starry Flag, wave o'er 
These brave bons we know no more ; 
Let their names inscribed be 
On thy folds, — they died for thee. 

Phelps and Vose, Pedrick, Hall, 
Messer, Cady, each did fall, 
And GiLLPATRiCK, Damon, too, 
In the strife, defending you, 

Sawtelle, Beecher, Watermann, 
Benden, Ober, sleep, sleep on ! 
Corliss, WesTON and Briggs Sloan, 
NoYES, and Mace, and Gutjerson. 

Johnson, Blanchard, Patterson, 
Parkhurst, Holt, brave men, sleep on 
And no less in valor true, 
George McClure, William Few. 

Kendall, rest beside the wave. 
Glory decks thy sea-girt grave ; 
Rest Gray, rest, — thy name who hears 
Shall thy fate recall with tears. 

One of Amherst's cherished sons 
Sleeps among the fallen ones, 
Who demands a tribute dear 
As we name the fallen here : 



THE MONUMENT. 1:!) 

Fo-th in time of p?ace he went. 
Holy man, on (rood inte .t ; 
And in labors mid w\r-^ceies 
Fell a martyr — faithful Mkans. 

Would his grave were with us here, 
Oft 'twould share the falling tear. 
And the sweetest flowers borne 
Hy our hands should it adorn. 

And, like him, in service, too, 
A brother bade to earth adieu 
Horne. as thousands were, away 
Hy the foul malaria. 

Twenty of our sons and ei,iiht 
Met the soldier's sternest fate. 
Freely died to save our land 
From Rebellion's deadly hand. 
Some in death lie mingling here 
With their kindred ashes dear ; 
Others with their comrades sleep 
Others by the sounding deep. 
Some sleep where C^od only knows ! 
No human hand decks their repose ; 
But kind Heaven shall e'er renew 
On them all the fragrance due. 

God of our fathers, and our own. 
Smile on the work our hands have done. 
As children hither come to play 
Of generations far away. 
May this fair monument we raise f 

Inspire them, as us, with praise 
'I'o Thee, kind Father, by whose hand 
The Union lives to bless the land. 
Inspire all hearts with gratitude 
To each brave son who nobly stood 
In all the desperate, deadly .strife. 

Contending for fair Freedom's life, 

Alike to him whom Heaven spared, 

Who nobly did, and nobly dared, 

.As to him who nobly fell 

Fighting for the Union well. 

And most for him whose hand and pen 

Wrote millions e.iattels into men ! 



130 A M 11 E R ST 1 X T 1 1 E \\ A K . 

And fell a martyr to the cause 
Of Union and of equal laws. 

As yonder bells shall greet with glee 
Return of day that made us free. 
And this fair monument remain 
The glory of our beauteous Plain, 
May Loyalty come here to pay 
Her honors, as have we to-day. 

God of our fathers, deign to dwell 
Within our Land — we love it v^^ell. 
Thy fostering care, so tender, great, 
Hath saved us from impending fate ; 
Thy hand alone can keep us still 
p'rom discard and impending ill. 
O, keep us, by Thy mighty power. 
When darkening clouds around us lowe-". 
Keep us humble when by pride 
And prosperity we're tried. 
Bless our Union — give it peace. 
And length of days and large increase : 
And sins and follies, Lord, forgive 
Of all who seek in peace to live. 

Forgive, if with aught of unholy pride. 
We've spoken of our sons who died, 
Fojjgetful of Thy nobler Son, 
Who died for sins that vve had done. 
P'orgive, if any, with feelings of hate. 
Rebels have viewed as sinners great, 
And yet, in their daily walk and life. 
Towards Thi'e have cherished deadly strife. 

O, gracious Father, Lord of all. 
Make al! Thine enemies to fall ; 
All hearts conquer by Thy sword, 
And be in earth as Heaven adored ; 
For Thine's the kingdom, Thine the power, 
And Thine the glory from this hour. 
When life's battles all are fought, 
And to the mustering-out we're brought. 
And with throbbing hearts await 
To learn our standing and estate, 
May that fearful, last roll-call 
Crown us victors, one and all, — 
And monuments of God's saving love 
Make us eternally above. 






From the early dawn of that first day in the week in which 
the Vlarys, bearing the nard they had prepared therefor, 
sought the ne^ Ariniathean tomb, to render fragrant the 
supposed resting-pkice of their sLain Lord, to the present 
hour, sorrowing love has sought with the sweetest floweis 
of earth to render fragrant and beautiful the resting-places 
of fallen, departed, heroic ones. 

It is a singular and pleasing coincidence that a memorial 
service which has become almost universal throughout the 
country, should have originated in the very home of the 
Rebellion. The first record found is from the Cabinet of 
May 12, 18G6, as follows : 

"Richmond rebels consecrated Wednesday, the anniversa- 
ry of Stonewall Jackson, to the adornment with flowers of 
the graves of those who fell in the service of the now crush- 
ed-out Confederacy . The'Richmond Examiner of that date 
was arrayed in typographical mourning, and it had, in com- 
mon with the other papers, editorials eulogizing Stonewall 
Jackson, and other dead Virginians who were in the rebel 
service. Their graves were visited by thousands during the 
dav, and were decked with flowers." 



1 :{2 A M H E RST I N THE W A H . 

(reneral L<»i:;an, Cojmnaiider of the Giaiid Ai'tiiy of tfic 
Republic, eaily in 1868, i-sued a general order to the Posts 
throughout the country, designating- ]May -JO as the day for 
decorating the graves of comrades who died in defense of 
tlieir couutiy. In it he says : 

'•If other eves grow dull, and other hands slack, and oth- 
ei' hearts cold in the solemn trust, ours shall keep it well as 
long as the light and warmth of life remain to us. Let us. 
then, at the tiuje appointed, gather around th^ir saci'ed i-e- 
mains, and garland the passionless mounds above them with 
the choicest tloweis of Spring-time ; let us raise ovei- them 
the dear old flag (hey saved fiom dishonor ; let us in this 
solemn presence renew our pledges to aid and assist those 
whom they have left among us as a sacred charge upon a 
nation's gratifude, the soldier's and the sailor's widow and 
f)rphan," 



The tirst Memorial observance in Amherst was conducted 
l)V Post Lui;, of Milford, June IP, 1869, reported in the 
Cabinet as follows : 

•'Post Lull, G. A. R., Milford, and veteians, decoi-ated the 
graves of their fallen comrades, ou Saturday last, both in 
.Milford and Amherst, the citizens uniting with theu) in the 
services of the occasion. A procession was formed in front 
of the Town House, Milford, at 10 a. m., and marched to 
the several cemeteries. At 1 o'clock a processiou was form- 
ed and proceeded to Amherst, where the graves of the Sol- 
diers were decorated. An oration was delivered by Colonel 
Carrol D. Wright, of Boston, from the P>and stand, on the 
Common, followed by brief addresses from B. W adleigh. 
Esq, and Lt. Humphrey Ramsdell, of Milford. The services 
were interspersed with singing by the members of our High 
School The Post was accompanied by the Cornet Ban<1 
and a guard of the Lincoln Rifles, and were received and 



MEMORIAL DAY. ]m 

escorted lo tlie Cen^etery by the La^rreiice Engine Co.. (40 
men, Captain Gilbert Small.) ar.fl after the exercises at tlin 
Staled, were handsomely entertained l>y the ladies at the 
Court House, as >Aere also the firemen and schools." 

No fui'ther organized Decoration services are i-epoi-ted in 
tlie Cabinet tintil the following, May 30, 1874: 

"■The observance of Memorial Day in this place was well 
eo.jduoted, appropriate and pleasant. The seivices were in 
the forenoon, opening with the reception of Post Lull, of 
Milford, and the Milford Cornet Band, by Lawrence Engine 
Co. 'I'hese organizations were joined by the Schools, (each 
soliola'' having- ,^ bouquet or wreath,) and citizens on fool 
and in carriages The line of march was around the Oval. 
f>assing- the residence of the venerable Anah Goss, widow of 
ALijor Ephraim (ioss, a fifer in the Revolutionary war, who 
though in her lOoth year, appeared at the door and returned 
the salute of the Veterans, the column having halted to d»> 
honor to this worthy centennarian. Prayer at the Cenieterv 
l>y Rev. Mr. Rean, after which was the service of decoration. 
Ivetnrning, at the Monument prayer was offered by Rev. Mr. 
Peacock, brief address by Dr. 13. H. Rartlelt, E. D. Boyls- 
ton closing with a brief poetical recall by rame of llie fallen 
on the tablet, (see p. 128. "> At the close a generous collation 
was served by the ladieS at the town house. Lt. Fay acted 
as Chief Marshal, and the Schools were fully represented." 

In 1875, Post Lnll, with Milford Band ; schools, all with 
boquets or wreaths ; Co. H. 1st. Hgt. N. H. V. M. : detach- 
ment Co. A. 1st Regt. with field-piece ; Fire co. ; (iiange ; 
]\Iilford boy fire co., &c. At cemetery gate was Floral arch 
inscribed, "Time does not lessen our Ipve." Prayer by Rev. 
John Peacock ; at Moi.iiment pi a}er by the Eev- A. HeaJd ; 
music, admirable address by Rev. Dr. Davis : collation. 



1 U A .A I H E UST IN 111 E W A R . 

May 33, 187t\ was duly honored and observed. AV)oiit 9 
a. Ill a pi"()cc.isio:i was formed, baa i:^d ov Ainh^r-it Co'ii-it 
Ban 1, wilJi tlv Eirj,'i:r^ Coinpini-;-!, Conirales. Schools and 
(yitizans, and procee lad to both the canieteri3s, where after 
prayer and a salute, the graves of the Soldiers were hand- 
somely decorated, A halt was made at the Monument, and 
prayer offered by Rev. Dr. Davis, and l)rief addresses by th^ 
Rev. A. Ileald, T. Kaley, Esq. and Dr. Bartlett. 

The graves of the following Soldiers of the Revolution, 
all that are known in the old Cemetery by the Town House, 
were visited and for the first time decorated — Colonel Dan- 
iel Warner, Archehis Batchelder, Lieut. John Eaton, Capt. 
Daniel Prior, Lieut Joseph Prince, Capt. Thomas Whiting, 
Col. Robert Read, Joseph Parker, Benjamin Damon, Hugh 
Moore, Ephraim Goss, William Read, Nathan Kendall, 
James Hartshorn, Amos P^lliott, Capt. John Weston. Sev- 
eral of these graves were found unmarked by a headstone. 

In 1877, the home Veterans and citizens, led by Amherst 
Cornet Band visited both cemeteries and tenderly and suit- 
ably remembered our dead heroes. Prayer by Rev. Dr. \'\'. 
Clark, Oration by George W*^ Woodward, Esq., Brooklyn, 
N". Y., Poem by E. D. Boylston, (extracts from Historical 
Poem, page 120.; 

In 1878, the services consisted of simple decoration by the 
resident Veterans and frtends, prayer by Rev. Dr. Clark, and 
sining of an Original Hymn. 

In 1879, Post Lull and Milford Cornet Band were met at 
west of the Plain by a procession, consisting of the resident 
Veterans, Grange, Firemen, Schools, citizens- At Cemetery 
prayer by Rev. Mr. Dille. At Town Hall A. A. Rotch, Esq. 
presided, music by quartette, Messrs. Woodberry and Aiken 
Mrs. Eaton and Miss Kin son. Oration by the Rev. Josiah 
Marvin, followed by fine collation. 



MEMOIUAL I)A\. I85 

Post Charles II. Phelps, So A'), of the (iraiid Ai'imv of 
the Republic, was installed in Amlierst, in fluly, 1S7!). and 
from that time handsome y conducted the services on Me- 
morial Day, having' annually secured a generous appropria- 
ation fiom the town to meet tiie expense. 

In 1880, Post Charles H. Phelps assumed the conduct of 
this service, and headed by the Amherst Cornet Rand re- 
ceived tlie Milford Post, the (4range, Firemen. Schools, and 
citizens. At tiie Monument a iiandsome Silk l^annei- was 
presented to Post Phelps by the ladies of Amherst, by Mrs. 
Sh.if.^r. Pi-ayer at C-^instery by Rev. (t. Esterl)i-ook. At 
the Hall prayer by Rev. W. I). Leland. Oration by Colonel 
F. Parkei-. 

in 1881 Post Charles H. Phelps was assisted by Post Lull, 
firemen, schools and citizens. Prayer by Rev. T. Ainsworth. 
Returning. })rayer at Monument by the Rev. C. Esterbiook. 
At the Hall A. A. Rotch, Escp presided ; prayer by Rev. Mr. 
Leland ; music by Band and Quartette ; Oral ion by Colonel 
Dana W. King, characteristic and happy. Col. King, with 
his usual geaaro-iity, donated th:" amount tendered l)v 
the Post lor his excellent address to its Relief fund. 

In 1882 services at Town Hall. Capt J. H. Fay presiding, 
pi'ayer by Rev. Mr. Leland. Addiess by Rev. Goi'ljam Estei- 
brook. Singing .Vnierica. Prayei- at cemetery by Rev. Dr. 
Davis, at mnnunient by Rev. ^ir. Colcord. 

In 1888, Lt. F. P. Phelps, Chief Marshall: Post Phelps, 
and other local organizations ; prayer at giaves by Rev, Mr. 
Leland ; at Hall, prayer by the Rev. Dr. Davis ; Oration V)v 
Albert O Brown, Esq. of Manchester. Post Phelps and 
Engine Company visited Merrimack in the afternoon. 

In 1884, services in I'oi'enoon. -L A. Skiniier. Chief ^Mar- 
shall, Drum corps, Post, J^ngine co.. Relief corps. Schools, 



I'M) AMHERST IN THE WAR. 

eitize'is. I'layer b} Rev. Dr. Davis. At Moiuiine'iil Dr. II 
D. Hicks made happv address At Hall music, appropiiate 
opiiiia^^ ad Iress, (j. ^\, Bosworth, presiding ; |»rayer. Rev. 
Dr. Davis ; Oiatioii, Rev. Geo. F. Eaton, Walthani. Hall 
handsomely decorated and coliation l»y Relief coips. Post 
visited Meirimack iu p. m. 

Ill lJ^S5, Milford Band, Post, &c. ; J. A, Skinner, con luct- 
ing ; prayer by Post Chaplain ; Hymn sung l>y Quartette at 
Monument ; at Hall, music, opening remarks by President 
G. W. Bosworth, prayer and happy address by Rev. l).r. d. 
G. Davis, tilling the place of Col. Hapgood expected 

In 188t) service.s at Town Hall at .9, Capt. Bosworth pre- 
sjidiug ; prayer by Rev. Mr. Howard; address by William B. 
Clark, Esq. ; poem read of comrade C. C. Davis At mon- 
ument floral arch "J. B. Fay." prayer Rev. McGown, school 
girls sang. Dr. Davis spoke feelingly of Lt. Fay 

In 1887, Post with Milford band. Relief corps, &c. Pecu- 
liar feature was dedication and decoration of Soldiers' Lot, 
by W, R. coi-ps, by which provided for burial of Soldiers, 
remarks by Mrs. Riddle, Commander, prayer by Mrs Ben- 
nett, Chaplain, remarks and prayer by Rev Studley. On 
the square were two flags draped, one bearing the name of 
J. B Fay, the other of F. P. Phelps, the former buried at 
Iveene, the latter interred at N'ashua. The exercises at the 
monument, music by quartette, remarks by Rev. McCxo-wn, 
At the Hall, prayer by Rev. Dr. Davis, remarks by Presi- 
dent Bosworth, address by Comrade E. T Perkins, Nash- 
uaa, poem by Miss Phillips, Minneappolis, singing America. 

In 1888, the services were of deep interst, —Post, Milford 
Band, Relief corps, &c. Prayer, Rev. Mr. McGown ; special 
service, prayer, and decorating by Relief corps at Soldiers' 
Lot, with fine floral shaft ; at the Monument prayer by Rev. 



Mi:\I()HIAL D.W. i:}7 

S^ill','. liv n 1 hv ([iisi-t-tte. W. W. Wilcox, II. II. Heldeii, 
Il^iirv O. Aik-i, W. B. Ilotch. •• We deck their o-raves alike 
toll,'.'" Th ' hull was hainlsoinelv decorated by ladies, vti- 
mii-k>i l)v Piv^i l.Mit I)OS.vo;-r,h, pr.iyer Rev. Dr. Davis, "The 
Womid^l Soldier," l)v quartette. Oration V)y Samuel Davis, 
Es(i . of Waruei", collation. 

In l.^S). conirarle (). Shaffei- conducting. Post Phelps, 
Foster Rifle Drum co:])s, Nashua, Relief corps, 89 children 
in liarges. in white,, each with sash, representing the States. 
Pr i/-r l)v^ R^v. A. J. M^'rown ; prayer at Monument, Rev. 
Mr. SLullsv; at Mall, opening address by President G. W. 
P)os worth ; ])raver, Rev. Dr. Davis ; cornet solo, Mrs, Shaf- 
f M- ; Oration, R-v. R. O, Walker, Merrimack, Mass. ; clos- 
ing with America, and generous collation. 

In lft90, Milford Band, Post, Grange, Relief corps and 
Schools in ct?rriages ; prayer, Rev. McGown ; a memorial 
livmn sung : at hall, prayer, Rev. Mr. Coombs, introductory 
re irirks, Presiil^nt B;)Svvorth : Oration, Rev. G. W. Ruland. 
In isni. Post escort, Souhegan (xrange (by invitation), — 
praver by Rev. McCrown, hymn by quartette ; at the Hall, 
p-vver by Rev. Dr. Davis ; address by Henry C.Goodwin, 
Vj< [ , o'' ■ ) > •iNi'i. 

In \<)l Posr. Granite Rifles and Milford Cornet Band, 
\V. R. C . &!'. ITamlsome flf)r;d monument on Soldier's lot, 
p-;tvHrbv Comi'ade Boswoi'th, Hall hnelydecoi'ated, prayer ■ 
Ppv. \)v. Davis, a, Idi-ess. ,Jaines P. Tuttle, P^sq., Boston. 

Lasi, Me iioi'ial D.iv th > Po.t was escoi-ted and excellent 
music rurnished by the Menimaok Band, and an admirable 
adibvss delivei'ed by Rev, John '!"hor]ie, of Mont-Yernon, 
The following is from Mr. .Thorpe s peroration : 

"Veteran? of the G. A. K. — A few years ago y^u received the . 
foM-nvinc: order : — "MeTiorial Day is the choieestiu the calendar 
of the Grand .Armv. A day of sweet remembrances to every loy- 
al heart, and any violatioii of its sacredness by making it the 6c- 

Coihimiod <^n Page 14J 



w. % d., No 13 




Ainherst \\ oiuaiTs Ileliet' Corjts. No. \''\, 
auxiilary to Post Charles H. Phelps, No. 4:5. 
(Traiul Army of the Republic. v\'as installed in 
'January, 18.S4, by Mrs. C. F. P. Foster, of Mil- 
ford, assisted l)y Mrs. Haiiiblet, largely as the 
result of earnest effort of Lieut. J. Byron Fay. 
The fii'st meetings were held in F^ngine Hall, 
but proving inconvenient, the Town Hall was 
engaged, where meetings were held until, through the 
kindness of Mr. and Mrs. H. ;i. Belden, the privilege was 
granted of fitting up a pleasant and very convenient Hall in 
their Brick Block. Later a kitchen was fitted up, crockery 
&c. purchased, for the purpose of Entertainments for benefit 
of its treasury. In Fall of 18S8, the Hall was amply enlarg- 
ed, re-papered, painted and carpeted. With an ample Re- 
ception Room, the W. R. C. have pleasant quarters, which 
are enjoyed alike by Post Phelps G. A. R., which kindness 
of friends has assisted in rendering- attractive, by contribu- 
tions of furniture, lamps, pictures, stoves, clock, flags, &c. 
Since organized the Corps has expended in charity .t225.()(). 
A pleasant feature of this organization is its Sewing Circle, 
for furnishing Clothing, Comforters, &c. for the sick and 



MEMORIAL DAY. 189 

needy, and articles for its anjuial Fair. Its nienibers arn 
largely true to their motto — 

"Fraternity — Charity — Loyalty." 
The organization richly merits the generous place it holds 
in the consideration and patronage of our citizens. 



OBJECT. 

Section i. To specially aid and assist the Grand Army of the 
Republic, and to perpetuate the memory of their heroic dead. 

Section 2. To assist such Union Veterans as need our help 
and protection, and to extend needful aid to their widows and 
orphans. To tind them homes and employment, and to assure 
them of sympathy and friends. To cherish and emulate the deeds 
of our Army nuises, and of all loyal women who rendered lov- 
ing service to their country in her hour of peril. 

.SEcriON 3. To inculcate lessons of patriotism and love of 
country among our children and in the communities in which we 
live ; to maintain true allegiance to the United States of America ; 
to discountenance whatever tends to weaken loyalty, and to en- 
courage the spread of universal liberty and of equal rights to 
all men. 




y. 



n 







X 



d; 



33 



a. ^ . ']{ . \ o. 4,-; 




AVas ii.slallMl ,'.,!> IC 1S7!). 
l>y the Stale 1)( ]'ai tii;eiit Coiii' 
niandei, Geei^e 11. I'oweis. as- 
sisted by Adjutant (ieiieial II. 
li. I). Coclivau. with tlie follow- 
iiig Charter nieiiiheis : Jose}>h 
B. Fay ; Appleton -I. Skinner : 
Elbridge V. 'J'row ; floel F-()s-. 
o()()d, jr. ; (ieoi'ue ^V. Osiiond ; 
Cliarles F.AVilkins ; John H. 
Coggin ; Wni. 11. Stackpole : 
Alden B. Bennett ; Charles A- 
Hiddle ; Kichard Mahon ; Dan- 
iel A. rcahddy : Alhei't F Bon- 
tell ; Fdson Davis; CmiisCioss. 
,1(.) u M. Fox ; II. W. I), .lohn- 
son : Samuel .1. Beard. 

The organization is well preserved and ettieient. as will he 
seen In' the records of :\Ieniorial days, although decoiating 
each Spring the graves of nearly one-half of the Charter 
members. As their numbei iiepletes. let ns the more ten- 
derly reoard and cherish the worthy Veterans ^vho li.iger. 



142 AMHERST IN THE WAR. 



casion one or frivolity and amusement, such as characterize the 4th 
of July, should be treated as an i.idi^nity to the Comrades who 
died that this country might live." That order still is timely. The 
rising generation should be taught the full significance of Memo- 
rial day, and the touching services thai are held at the graves of 
thos-e who gave their lives that we might enjoy the blessings of a 
united Government. It should not be regarded as a day out of 
School, or away from the office, farm, or workshop, a day of triv- 
ial recreation ; but a day in which to recall the mighty deec^s eract- 
ed when the country was shrouded by the black pall of war. and 
the ga lant men who are now with us only in memory, were ! at- 
tling for the ri ht. V^eterans — you need no Memorial iJay set 
apart ; but we do ! 

The names we cherish, and those we add from year to year to 
the ever lengthening roll, have won their place among the saviors 
of their kind. The scro'l of centuries, is rolhd together. The 
work is done, and well done. Peace to the memory of tlit.- Fath- 
ers, (ireen :ihe graves where sleep warriors, patriots, ^a £e . Calm 
the resjing place of the brave and true. Gentle the Summer rains 
that fall on famous battle fields, where our heroes died. Forgot- 
ten be animosities and heart burnings of the strife. Bright be the 
vision of coming ages. For every mountain and hill shall have 
its treasured name, every river shall keep some solemn title, each 
valley and lake shallcherish its honored register. And, till the 
mountians are worn away, and the rivers forget to flow, till the 
clouds are weary of replenishing springs and the springs forget to 
gush, aud the rills to sing, shall these names be kept fresh with 
reverent honors, which are inscribed upon the Look of National 
Remembrance. 

Finally, in the words of the great "Father Abraham," 'Let u.' 
highly re '-olve that the dead shall not have died in vain ; that the 
nation, under God, shall have a new birth of F'reedom ; and that 
the Government of the People, by the People, and for the Peo- 
ple, shall not perish from the earth." 



MEMORIAL DAY. ^ ]^'] 



SUNDAY MEMORIAL SERVICES. 

Sunday Memorial services were obsei\ed, attended hy Ihe 
Po.st and Relief Corps, as loUows : 1881. at the Baptist chh. 
hy Rev. G. Esterbrook ; 1882. at Methodist, hy Rev. L Ains- 
vvorth ; '8-^, Post and W. R. C. attended Merrimack service ; 
18S4. Congregationalist, by Rev. Mr. Carpenter, of Moiit- 
Vernon : 188."), Baptist, hy Rev. Mi'. Howard ; 1886, & 18.S7, 
Congregationalist, hy Rev Mr. Mctjovvn ; 18S8, CongJ-et>a- 
tionalist, by Rev. Mr. Woodsuni, Milfoid ; 18S9, at Baptist 
Rev. Mr. Studley; 1890, Methodist, Rev. Mr. Merrill : 1891. 
1892, Methodist, Rev. Mr. Wood« ; 1'"^^;}. Cmoregationalist, 
hy Rev. Mr. '^■cGown 

SOLDIERS' Bl'RIALS IN w EST CEMETERY. 

Austin, Albert S. Hansct)m, Charles E. 

Alexander, John V. Kendall, John L.* 

Benden, Rohert Love joy, Leander 

Benden, Edwin McClure, George A, 

Brown. William E. Mace, John 

Bartlett, Dr. B. H. Nichols. Henry A. 

Bennett. Alden Bradford Noyes, Albert 

Boutell, Albert Ol er, Henry 

Burdick, Rodney Phelps, Charles H. 

Colston, Henry Russell, George ^\ . 

Danforth, Stephen E. Sawtelle, Lyman B. 

Drucker, H(^nry Stevens, William A. 

Frost, Peter Upton, George H. 

Few, William Upton, Charles 

Few, Robert Weston, Martin P, 

Fletcher, H(Uiry Wheeler, (Tcorge 
Ferrell, Henry 

\[^FoY Revolutionary Soldiers burials in the East Cem- 
etery see page 131 . *See Closing Sketches. 

5;^=*There are graves of several Revolutionary Soldiers 
in the Cemet(>i'v on Chestnut Hills. 



AND NOTES. 



THE DAVID BROTHERS. 

At tlie first meeting of the citizens of Amherst, to make 
provision for tlie war, Dea. B. B. David, Csee page 5.) on be- 
ing called to tlie chair, in his address said : "I have four 
sons : 1 here devote these sons, my property, and all that T 
have, to the maintenance of the Government, and saving- 
of the Union.' At the close of that meeting, 

JAMES B. David, 

the youngest of the four, volunteered his services, and was 
one of our men to form Capt. Gillis' Co., of three months' 
men, stationed at Fort Constitution, and at the organization 
of the Company, was appointed First Lieutenant. At the 
expiration of that term of service, here-enlisted in Co. I, of 
Fifth N. IT. v.. and was appointed First Lieutenant. After 
serving a year, he was honorably discharged, and solicited 
to assist in raising a Cavalry Regiment, in Dubuque, Iowa, 
where he had formerly resided, and was commissioned as 
Captain of one of the Companies. Soon after he entered 
the field, he was promoted to Major, and had command of 
the Regiment, with headquarters at Fort Sedgwick, Col. 
His Regiment was employed in service among the Indians 
on the frontier. He was wounded, at Plumb Creek, Neb., 
during an engagement. With but one hundred men, he was 



1 4H A M U E H ST IN T H E WAR. 

nttacked I'V an ovei- a liHiininn Ixxly of Indians, witliont the 
loss of a man, and l>nt four wounded, .\fter a sliort but 
spli-ite<i fight, the Indians were dnven fro'n the field of ac- 
tion. After four years of active service, he was honorably 
discharged, having leceived luevet commission as Lieuten- 
ant Colonel and Colonel, for efficient services rendered on 
the Plains. Colonel David now r^-sides in Somerville, Mass 

SvvoRi) Preskntation. — Yesterday afternoon, the meniliers 
of Co. E. 7th Cavalry, presented their Capt 'in, James B. David, 
of Dubuque, with an elegant sword, sash and belt, purchased for 
the occasion. Major Heath made the presentation speech, Co 
which Captain David feelingly responded, llie sword cost over 
$70, which sum was raised bv members of ihe Co.. ur.dtr leader- 
ship of Orderly Sergeant E. E. C)rmsby, of Dubuque.- Z)^/?'^^/- 
port Daily Gazette. 

F'oRT Sedgwick -We lear, that Maj. James 1!. David, of the 
7th Iowa Cavah-y, has been ordered to take command of the Fort 
at Julfcsburg, Co!. Ty., and will leave for that place to-morrrw. It 
is the most important military post on the Overland Route, and 
the command the most responsible. The assignment of Major 
r^avid to it is a very high comijliment to his ability. We congrat- 
u'ate him, and approve the wisdom that selected so accomp'ish- 
ed an officer and thorough gentleman. — Onuxha Daily Rep. 

WILLIAM Cr. DAVID, m. d. 

was in medical practice, at Lyons, N. Y., at the outbreak 
of the war. Obtaining a Surgeon's commission, he joined 
the 98th N Y. Kegimeiit, inider the comtnaud of Colonel 
William Dutton. and accompanied the Regiment to the seat 
of war. He was in the earlier campaigns ia Virginia, in bat- 
tles before Richmond. AVildernens, White Oak Swamp, &c. 
He was promoted Brigade Surgeon at the capture of Port 
Hudson, and afterwards Post Surgeon there, being present 
at its surrender, and having charge of the Hospital until the 
close of the war. when he returned and resumed pi'actice at 
Lyons, N. Y, His l)usiness rapidly increased, rallying a 
host of friends about him. Tn the prime of manhood, and 
the enjoyment of perfect health, promising a long career of 
useful professional labor, he was taken suddenly ill in Au- 
gust, 1877, and died on the 17th of that month He was 
greatly endeared to his friends and that community, and 
his demise made an almost irreparable vacancy. 



CLOSING SKEECHES. 149 



('Haiilp:s h. ciiampney, 

At the breaking out of the war, was a Clerk in the Regis- 
ter of Deeds office, which place he left, for the seat of war, 
as Company Clerk, Co. T. 5th Rpgt N. . V.. Capt. Charles 
E. Hapgood. After following the fortunes of that Regi- 
ment for over two years, he was commissioned 2d Lieut, of 
Co. C, 1st Regt, {]■ S. Vol. Infy., and was ordered to Nor- 
folk, Va., where the Regt. was on Provost duty until the 
1st of August, 18(i4, when it was ordered to Fort Rice, Dak. 
Ter. in the Dept of the Noi-th-west, via New-York, Chicago 
St. Louis and ^lissouri River, to within about 400 miles of 
its destination, which distance was marched, arriving there 
Oct. 10th. Fort Rice was located 800 miles, by the river, 
above Sioux City ; in which place was the neare t Post office 
— wdth tri-mouthly mails by Indian cari'iers. Fort Rice at 
this time had been in process of constructions but a few 
months, and was planned to be the largest Fort upon the 
Frontier. Lt. Champney was detailed as "Superintendent 
of Public Buildings," which position gave him charge of all 
details in the completion of the Fort. In July, 1865, he was 
promoted to 1st Lieut, and took command of his Company, 
which he retained until muster-out of the Regiment. 

While stationed at this point, whicli was in the heart of 
the Sioux Indian country, the Regiment had numerous 
skirmishes with Indians, and one hard fought battle with 
about oOOO, who attacked the Fort, at early day-break, July 
28, 1865, with determination of capture and slaughter of the 
whole garrison, which at that time consisted of six compan- 
ies. They were driven off after several hours fighting, with 
about 40 killed. Loss of Regiment cousidei'ably less. 

After a year's service at this point, his Regiment embark- 
ed, on flat-bottomed boats, each sufficient to cari-y a com- 
pany, destined for Fort Leavenworth, Kan., over 1000 miles 
distant, where mustered out. 

Lieut. Champney returned home, only to remain a few 
months, when he returned to Kansas, where, in 1868, he as- 
sisted in recruiting a Company, and again entered the ser- 
vice, as 2d Lieut. Co. B, 19th Kansas Cavalry, a Regiment 
authorized by Congress for service against Indians. They 
were placed under Gen Custer, with the 7th LT, S. Cav., and 



ir>() AMHKRsr IX THE WAR. 

served in the campaign of 18()<S and '()P, m the Soiith-vves(. 
which took them through portions of" \\ estern Kansas, In- 
dian Territory, Okhihama. Xorthei-n Texas, Xevv Mexico, 
and Eastern Colora(h). The Hegiment was nuistered out in 
1H69, at Fort Haves. Kansas. 

Lt. Champney ivtni'ned to Xew IIani[)sliire a few years 
later, and for five years served a-; Captain of thn (xranite 
State Cadets, 2d Regt, N, H. X. (i., of Antrim. Tpon his 
resignation. Adjutant (ien'l. Ayliiig writes in part— "Since 
I have held my present position, I have counted you one of 
our l)est ' ompany officers, and regret your lea\'ingthe sei'v- 
ice of the State." 

Lt. Champney has a militaiy experience that hut few pos- 
sess, and a record of which he may well he proud. His pres- 
ent residence is Reading. Mass. 

GEORGE E. HEATH 

In August, 186->, enlisted in the lOth Regt. X. H. Vols, at 
its organization, and was with it in all its mai'ches and en- 
gagements up to fluly, lS()o, when discharged, by order of 
Secy, of War, and appointed 1st Lieut, of Co. I), fith Regt. 
IT. S. C. T., and was stationed at Camp William, near Phil- 
adelphia, and appointed Post Adjutant. He there assisted 
in the organization of several Regiments of Colored troops, 
rpuiaining until May, 1S64, when he joined his Regiment. 
then before Richmond He participated in the preparations 
for the advance on Peteisburg and Richmond, during the 
Summer and Fall of 1S04 ; was in both expeditions against 
Fort Fisher, N. C, participating in the capture of the Fort, 
and after in the capture of Wilmington. Lieut. Heath was 
promoted Captain in January, LSiio, and assigned to Co. B, 
()th Regt. U. S. C. V. This Regiment was kept on garrison 
duty at Wilmington, N. C, after close of the war, until Oc- 
tober, 1865, when it was mustered out at Philadelphia, whei'e 
organized. 

For some time in the Summer and Fall of 1865, Captain 
Heath and company were detached, on duty at Fair Bluffs, 
N. C, a small place on the Manchester & Wilmington R. R. 
to look after the peace of that section, and the interests of 
the Freedmen. 



CL()SIX(; SKK'lCilKS. ini 



EDWIN BKNDKN 



A recruit from the Cnhhtel Ottii-e, enlistid in tie N. H. Mli 
Reot.. Co. H. at its forninnoii. ai.d knew all its marches and 
engagements lor two and a hali_\eais. without h)ss ol a (hiy. 
PnVroted Orderly Seigeant. lie re-eulisted, ol)tained sl.oil 
furlouph, returned to iiis Heiiimeiit. At the consolidation 
of tlie'Reij,iment, suffering from diarrhcea, he was discharg- 
ed, letunie I Irome, and lingered in suffering nearly a year, 
lie was for seveial weeks a piisoner at Port Hudson, heing 
relieved ai the entry of our troops. 

Xo nobler life was given to the countiy. He was of Eng- 
lish hirth. hut true, oh, how true ! to the land of his adop- 
tion. Modt^st and unassuming, and a young man oi much 
charactei-. I le was eldest son of Robert P)endeii, and 20 
years and '-^ months old at his deceas-. 

JOSEPH A. HROWX. 

At the time in the employ of Mr. Jolin F. Whiting, en- 
listed in Co. H. loth N. H. Vols. ; promoted Sergeant ; serv- 
ed full term. Deceased at Xashua, March 17. ISSIJ. 

HEXRY X. XICHOLS. 

Enlisted in Co. 1, oth X. H. Vols., Oct. lo, ISIJI, and was 
discharged for disability Feb. 4. iSfi,^. having been wound- 
ed by acannon ball in July, 1S(!2 He was a biave and ex- 
cellent soldier, for which service he was well tiained by his 
earlv habits ot night tramps in coon hunting. After his re- 
tuni from the war he resumed his occupation of ])aiiitiiig at 
Dorchester, Mass., \vhere his widow is lesident. His warm 
attachment to his comrades was conspicuous in the devout 
interest sliown in the memorial of decoration, 

GEORGE BRIC(iS SLOAN. 
Son of George Sloan, (see page 75,) enlisted in Co. H, loth 
X. H. Vols. Sept. 4, 1862 ; died of diaarrhoea ai Fairfax 
Seminary Hospital, Nov. 2(), 18(i:}. His lemains were inter- 
red in a new cemetery, about an eighth of a mile from the 
hospital, and a slab, suitably inscribed, erected by the (iov- 
ernment. His record is that of a good soldier, and the de- 



152 CLOSIXG SKETCHES. 

votijii with which he engaged in thi cause of his bleeding 
country, and his ever kindly disposition, will be held in 
renienibraiice by comrades and all who knewhira. His age 
was 19. 

JOHN LOVETT KENDALL, 

At the opening of the War, was in the employ of the late 
Dr. Mattliias Spalding, and volnntered in Co F, 5th X. H, 
Regt.. Oct, 1(S61. He was born in Mont-Vernon, March 11, 
1828 ; married jMiss Christiana K. . at Nashua, 

May 28, 1S51 ; drowned near Fortress Monroe, by collision 
of steamers, Feb. 24 1S64, on his way returning. The re- 
mains subsequently washed ashore, and interred near where 
found. A memorial stone was erected by friends in onv 
West cemetery. Mr. Kendall was a true man, and a noble. 
Christian Soldier, and whose religion stood the feai'ful 
strain of the battle-tield. He bravely bore his comrade 
Nichols from the fie d when wounded. See pag\) 94. 

FRANK M. HOLT, (See page m.) 

Son of Edwin M, Holt, enlisted in the 47th Penn Regt., 
and died of disease contracted in the service. The Neiv- 
Bloomfield (Pa.) Democrat paid him the following just and 
handsome tribute : 

"In another column we publish a tribute of rt'spect to the mem- 
ory of Frank M. Holt, by his companions in arms. Never has 
the death ot a comparative stranger called forth more heartfelt 
sorrow In this borough. Young Holt came to this place last 
Spring, s short time before Capt. Wooilruff's Company was call- 
ed into the three months' service. He had been here long enough 
however, to make many acquaintances, and many sincere friends. 
Kind, gentlemanly courteous, and honest in all his transactions, 
he won for himself the esteem of all who knew him. He was 
from New-Hampshire, and as worthy a representativeof the land 
of steady habits as we ever knew. He connected himself with 
Capt, VV 's Company as a private, and discharged his duty nobly 
and faithfully. He returned with it at the exphation of the three 
months, and although at times he spoke of goine; home to see his 
kindred, he concluded to defer his return home till after the Re- 
bellion had been put down, and a^ain went with the company. 
Ha was appointed Sergeant, and filled the place with marked 
ability until disease struck him down. He was conveyed from 



CLOSING SKETCHES 851 

the Camp to the General Hospital near Georgetown, where he 
died of small pox. Oct. 28. He was about 23 ys. of age. Peace 
to the ashes of the stranger soldier, and may his mother con'-.ole 
herself with the reflection that he died in service of his Country." 

ALBERT FLETCHER, 

Soil of Sewall Fletcher, (see page iH),^ enlisted in Co. C, 4th 
N. H. Regt. Aug. 21, LS(jL Was in the engagement at Hil- 
ton Head, N. C , at the taking of Fort Walker and of Fort 
Beanfoit. He was disabled IS'ov. S, 1861, discharged in Jan- 
naiT, re-enlisted in Co. E, loth N. H. Sept. 14, 1S62, for nine 
months, served 11 1-2. Was in battles at Port Hudson on 
May 8, and June 27, 1868. Discharged at Concord, Aug. 
18, 1S68. Enlisted Dec, 4, following, in Co. A, Vt. i7th 
Regt., -at St. Albans Was in the battle of the Wilderness. 
May 4-6, 1S64, — wounded May 6. Discharged at Montpe- 
lier, Vt. Hospital, Aug. 18. 1865. Residence at Montgom- 
ery, Vt. 

ROBERT (iRAY, 

Son of Dea. Timothy (hay, (see page 90,) was born in Wil- 
ton March 12, 1827 ; enlisted in Co. H, lOth N. H. ; corpo- 
ral ; taken prisoner ; died, a prisoner of war, at Salisbury. 
N. C, Feb. 17, 1865. 

CHARLES A HALL, 

Another reci uit from the Cahinet office, (seepage M,) came 
here from N. Y.. in 1860. His father was a'Cdngregational 
clergvman, once pastor at Central Village, Ct (See Cabinet 
Jnne"'2, 1864.) He enlisted in Co, D, 9th X. H., May 1862. 
and was killed in battle the 12th of May, 1864. No truer, 
purer life was given to the country. He was a noble Chris- 
tian young man. 

JAMES W. PATTEHSON, 

An Amherst volunteer in Co. B, 4th N. H. Regt., who died 
of disease, at Fortress Monroe, Oct. 1861, whose name is on 
our monument, was a transient person, and previously pass- 
ed here under the name of Rice. 



154 



CLOSING SKETCHES. 



(iEOKGE A. PEDRICK, 

Son of Mr J C. IVdrick, enlisted in Co H, loth Kegt. N. H. 
Vols . Augnst, 1S()2, and was killed at Coal Harbor, in May 
1SH4. In an engagement he was wonnded in the arm; and 




shortly after was shot and instantly killed, while carrying 
water to the camp. He was with his Regiment continuous- 
ly, and regarded as one of its truest men. His age was 21. 
His burial was in the National Cemetery. 



CLOSmG SKETCHES. i:.:, 

VOSE BROTHERS 

(iK')iiGK VosK. ^spe ])a^e 17.) the first volunt«^er fiv>in 
Winlier t, son of late Samuel Vose. enlis'ed in 1st N H. Rt. 
nnd i-t^-Mti i<tpl in Co. T, 5th N. II . Pronioted 1st Lieut. 
Julv 3. l.'^fU. 

Edward Vose. (^ee pai;e 75.) brother of above, member 
of same Co , was severelv wounded in the leq;. at Fredericks- 
bur^-. requirino- amputation, and died next morninsr. He 
served his Regiment well, being with it from its leaving the 
State till his fall, in its everv march and co test He was 
the first of our men that fell on the battle-field. A voung 
man of excellent character. 

CHARLES H. PHELPS, 

Son of Mr. Horace Phelps, (-^ee p. 140.) after three months' 
service at Port-imoiiUi, enlisted in Co. T, 5th N". H. Vols, as 
Sergeant, (^ct 15, 1831, and was in its every engagement till 
his death. He was wonnded in the side at Fredericksburg, 
aiul in the back at Gettysburg, dying the next day. He was 
accredited as one the bravest of our men, and after the bat- 
tle of Antietam, was recommended for promotion for brav- 
vvy in the field. Interment at home, with impressive cere- 
monies, the Church being heavily draped, a detail of Nash- 
ua Cadets, and the Milford Kand, in attendance. A beauti- 
ful monument marks his resting place, with the words of 
the Pastor, f'A young man, but an old soldier," -and his 
V>att1ps. Yorktown, Fair Oaks, Savage Station, Peach Orch- 
ard, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Charles City, Antie- 
tam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg. He was 
a noble young man, and his name is duly honored in our 
Iccal war orgaaizations. 

CHARLI.S A. DAMON, 

Son of the late Stephen Damon, (see page 140,) enlisted 
in Co. T, 5th N. H., Oct. 15, 18 il, and was killed at Gettys- 
burg, fTuly 1, 1863. Literment on bat-le-field, remains not 
identified. A worthy man, leaving a widow and five chil- 
dren, without means. 



156 AMHKRST IX THE WAR. 

WILLIAM FEW, 

.Second sou of Kobeit Few, of Dowiiliaiii, CambridgeshiiP 
England, (See page 41,) where born jNlav 7, 1821, came lieip 
in 1852, removed to Nashua in 1860, theie enlisted in Co H 
7th N II. Regt,, Nov. 1, 1S()1, knew all its service and ei,- 
gagements until prostrated by disease, and sent to the Poits 
mouth Grove, R. I., Hospital, where, after lingei'ing a f^^w 
weeks, he died fJuly 29, 1803. Interment heie, with tender 
services, conducted by Rev. fJ. (t, Davis and Rev. Mi-. Clark 
of Methodist Church, Nashua. A Nashua Qurtaette sang 
his requiem, and a delegation of friends fi"om thei'e in at- 
tendance. The Chapel was appropriately draped, and the 
(basket enshiouded in the dear Old Fkig foi- which he died. 

ELI S. GU TTERSOX, 

Enlisted in Co. H. 10th N, H. Vols, lie was taken sick 
at Falmouth, returned, deceased May 1!), 18<):1 .Age 45. 

RODNEY W. BURDICK, 

Was of Capt. Gillts' Co. at Portsmouth, and enlistMl in 
Co. E, 3d .N. H., (see roster, page i)5.) Promoted Sergeant 
for meritorious bravery in the field. 

MACE BROTHERS. 

John N. Mace, son of Joseph Mace, Esq., enlisted in < o, 
H 10th N. H. Regt., Sept. 4, 18(12 : died, of diptheiia, at the 
Lincoln Hospital, Washington, Jan. 7, IBH^J. aged 22. Bul- 
led in National Cemetery. He was a young man of sterl- 
ing worth, and greatly beloved. 

Frank W. Mace, brother of the above, eidisted at same 
date in same Co. ; promoted Corporal ; served full term- 
Present residence, South Lancaster, .Mass He is doing ex- 
cellent service in the Gospel field, wielding the Sword of 
the Spirit. 

MARTIN P. WESTON, 

Son of Isaac P- Weston, (see page 147) enlisted in Co. K. 
F. H. A., Sept. G, 1804 ; died of congestton of the lungs, at 
Fort Simmons, D. C, Jan. 11, 1805 ; interment here. Says 
a comrade, ''He was greatly endeared to his company, and 
his character as a soldier earnest to do his duty, as a friend 
ever ready to oblige a brother, will cause his memory long- 
to be kept green in the hearts of Co. F." 



1—1 

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CLOSIXCi sKiri'CilKS. i.V) 



SAWTELLE BROTHERS. 
I.YMAX Bkeciiki: Sa\vtkll'\ son of ilie lal(' Eli Saw telle. 
learned the pi'intini^- l)\isiness in the ('ahl/ict Otiice. \\'hili' 
thu'i eni])loye(l, he felt called to a hii^^her woik, and enteied 
upon a course of preparat on for liie Christian ininistiy. 
(See pai;e (>(). and leni;tliy sketch in Cah'utet, Oct. •_'.'>, ]8()-(. ) 
Imt at the call of his bleeding;' country, enlisted in the oth 
N. II. and took the field in her defense. His strength prov- 
ing inadequate, he was cared for at the (ieneral lIosj)ilal at 
ilainptoii, wiiere fi)r a time he sei'ved as a nurse and Waid 
.Master, an.i won high esteem, lie reached his lionie but to 
linger a, few weeks among its Jo\ed ones, and deceased at 
age of 28. deeply mourned by ad. 

AVii.LiAM Watkrm.W Sawte'ilk. biolJiei- of the above, 
(see jia-je 2(1,) was of our men at I-ortsmoiith. re-tnlisted in 
Co (i, 2d N. n , and knew its terrible conflict at l>ull Hun. 
from the exhaustion of wiiich he never recovered. He re- 
turned to Washington, wheie he was prostrared by typhoid 
fever and deceased. 

SA.MUEL W. CORLISS 
Eiilist-d in Co. II, 10th N. II. V. Sept. 4, 18(J2. lYinX in 
hospital at Portsmouth, Va., August It), W^, and buried in 
the .Vational Cemetery — leaving a widow and seven children 
without means. 

HENRY S. 0BI:K. 

Son of the late Mr. Samuel Ober, was three months at 
Fort Constitution, re-enlisted in Co. C, 4th N. M., died from 
disease at Hilton Head, Dec. 7, 1-:>61. A comrade wrote of 
him: "lie was esteemed one of the best men in the Regi- 
ment. His even good nature, gentlemanly and soldierlv 
l>earing won love from all with whom he associated. I saw 
him breathe his last, a pleasant smile resting on his face, as 
his eyes closed in the sleep that knows no waking. He was 
not a professor of religion, but last night he sang a short 
hymn and offered a fervent prayei'." (See frontispiece.) 

JAMES BLANCHARI) 

Enlisted in Co. Co. H, N. H. 10th, and died at Norfolk. 
Va., August 19, '63, buried in National Cemeterv. 



1(5) 



AMHERST TN THE WAR 



BRYANT HUTCHIN'SON MELEXDY, 

Son of Bryant Melendy, enlisted in the First N". H. Bat- 
tery, at iManchester, and vva-i mustered in Sept, 26 1861, 
receiving -flOO bounty from the state. He served tliree 
year.s — having no furlough during that time. He was in al! 
the engagements which the Battery knew till his dischargn. 




.lie was afterwards engaged ;it AVhire Mountain hotels in 
the summer season and assis'ed in tin; building of the Mt. 
Washington Railroad, running first engine over the road, 
carrying the workmen, etc. I !e was married to ^liss S. 
Jennette Smitli o^' Keesville^, .V. Y.. at Battle Creek, Mich., 
Mav 11th, iS78, and lias since resided there. 




J- APPLETON SKINNER 



c LOS r y G s k i^y re ! i ks. i {v.\ 

^y^.\v must have its Mttsic -its stii-rino rattle of thedruiu, 
its l)u-;!e hlast, and tnunpet call. In the late war Amherst 
furnished its full share of this service, to cheer on the loyal 
to ^u..re!-s and victory, as tlie followiuo- records attest : 

josiiTA APPLi^roN ski\\p:r 

Enlisted in Co. II. Kith X. II. , Sept. 4, 18(i2 ; ])romoted 
Bugler; mus. out June "il, lS(i5 He was with the Band 
'hat first entered I'ichmond Since the war he has been 
officially prominent and useful in the State Department of 
tlie (Jrand Army. 

RUSSELL BROTH EKS. 

ni:oH<4E W, Russell, son of the late James Russell, en- 
listed in Co. H, 10th X. H. V., Sept. 4, 18()2, nnistered out 
June 21, ISfi.) ; deceased at New-Boston, June 12, 1873. 
lie was of and with the Band that tirst entered Richmond. 

Warrkx S. Russell, brother of the above, w^as in the 
war, as a member of the Seventh Regiment Band, and later 
Soloifit in Gen. Gilmore's Post Band at Hilton Head. He 
first led a Band at Mil ford, Mass. After the w^ar he played 
for a time in Bands in Concord and Nashua, and in '66 ac- 
cepted the leadership of the Winchendon Band, coutinuing 
it until 71, when he accepted a call to Fitchburg, where he 
deceased March 14, '84, aged 24 In 1878, he was present- 
ed with a solid silver Cornet, richly trimmed and ornament- 
ed with gold, costing i$250, by his many friends, as a testi- 
monial of appreciation. He left a wndow and a daughter. 
He, with David Thompson, was of the Band first entering 
Charleston, 

GEOKGE W. OSGOOD 

Enlisted, as Musician, in Co. H. 4th N, H. Vols. Nov. 25, 
1868 ; mustered out Aug. 28, 1865. (See page 100.) He was 
with the I)and at the taking of Fort Fisher, and gave them 
"Hail Columbia" on entering Wilmington, and "Hail to the 
Chief," at the reception of Gen. Sherman as his line came 
up from Savannah. 



1(14 AMHERST IN THE WAR. 

ALl>EN BRADFORD RENNET, 

A native of Dunstable, Mass., in \-V^9, at the aj^e of 29, 
enlisted on the U. S. Ship Ohio, as ship Fifer, servinpj three 
vears, most of the time on the Mediterranean. At break- 
ing out of the war of the Rebellion, he was the third man 
from New-Hampshire to enlist, and served in the 1st N. H. 
Kegt., a three months' service. He re-enlisted in the 9th 
N. H., and afterwards in the 89th Mass. The rank he usu- 
ally held was Fife Major. The last sixteen months of his 
service was in Hospital at Washington, where he was order- 
ed suffering from a fall, where waiting discharge for disa- 
l)ility, when mustered out, at close of war. He deceased 
here May 15, 1891. 

CHARLES E. FLINT 

Enlisted in Co. F, First N. H. H. A., Sept. 6, 1864; trans- 
ferred to Co. B, June 10, 1865 ; mustered out Sept. 11, 1865. 
He did efficient service in the Post Band at Hilton Head. 



There are others, not included in our quotas, who are so 
identified w ith all the interests of the place, that they seem 
largely entitled to be remembered and duly honored in this 
review and record. 

The following Naval record is one most honorable to the 
the one whose name it bears, and to the town. 



CLOSTXG SK ETC! IKS. 



Irtf) 



NAVAL RECOHD 

JOHN H.CLARK, m. d. 

Kntered the Navy as Assistant Surgeon, Oct. 19, 1861 ; 
served in U. S. steamer, Scioto, in West (iulf Blockading 




JOHN H. CLARK, M. D. 

Squadron, with Admiral Farragnt, 18G2-4; attached to 
Navy Yard, Tortsmouth, X. H., 1864-5 ; in U. S. steamer, 
Mohongo, Pacific Squadron, 1865-7 ; commissioned as Sur- 
geon in U. S. Navv, Jiav 14, 1867; attached to U. S. Receiv- 
ing ShipVaudali;.. nt ^^-'■t«mouth,N. H., 1868-9 ; attache.l 



166 AMHERST TN THE WAK'. 

to U. S. steamer Alaska, ou the Asiatic Statioi, Dec. 1S6'> 
to Feb. 1S73; Surgeon of Naval IJendezvous in New York 
city, 1873 ; attached to the U. S. Xaval Hospital, < heisea. 
Mass., J 873 to 1875; attached to the U. S. ship, Xew Hamp- 
shire, at Port Ro3^al, S. C, 1876 -7-'^; Surgeon of the Re- 
ceiving Ship. Wabash, at the Navy Yard, Boston, Mass.. 
1879-80; Member of Naval Examining Board. 1881-82: 
Fleet Surgeon of the Pacific Squadron, 1883-6; special 
duty at Portsmouth, N. H., 1886-7; Member of Naval Ex- 
amining Board, 1888-9 ; attached to the U. S. ci'uiser, Bal- 
timore, on special duty in Europe, 1890 ; Fleet Surgeon, Pa- 
cific Station, 1891-2 ; President of Naval Medical Exam- 
ining Board, 1893. Promoted to Medical Inspector, U. S. 
Navy, January 8, 1885 ; promoted to Medical Directoi-. [' S. 
Navy, March 4, 1893. 



THOMAS L. GH.LPATRICK, 

A native of Lowell, ]\Iass., came to Amherst in 1853 and 
lor three years was employed on the faru) of William A. 
Mack. He afterwards lived in Milford, N. IL, Vermont 
and New York, and in Lexington, .Mass., who'e he was 
when the war broke out. He enlisted in the First Mass. 
Reg't., under Col. Cowdin, and was in the first battle of 
"Bull Run." He re-enlisted in the 4th N. H, ; served in 
South Carolina ; and was killed on Morris Island. His Col- 
onel reported him a brave, excellent soldier. A comrade 
gives this account of his death : "He was standing on a trav- 
erse, and seeing the flash of a Rebel cannon, a mile or more 
away, said, "that ball is for me.' "Jump down, then," said 
a soldier. "No," he replied. "I will stand, and take it !" 
The ball struck him, cutting off both legs, and he expired 
in a few moments." His age was 20. 



CLOSING SKETCHES. 



167 



THE MEANS BROTHERS. 

Rev. Jamks Mkans, t^oii of Colonel David M'G. Means, a 
native of Anihersi, graduate of Bowdoin and Andover, filled 
pastorate at Old Coi^-cord, and taught at Groton, Lebanon, 
and Auburndale. The closing labors of his life were eiven 




to msti-ucting the Contrabands congregated within the loyal 
lines at Newbei-n, N. C. A correspondent of the Cabinet, oi 
date of Newbern, April i). 1868, wrote : 

"I arrived here just in season to witness the funeral cor- 
tege of Rev. James Means, a good man. whose obituaries. 



l(J8 AMHEKSr IX lllE W All. 

however well wiittei , cani.otdo hiiu n oiethaii justice. He 
came here a year a^o. full of patriotism and philanthropy. 
lie was fiist Chaplain in the Academy Green Hospital, and 
there labored most faithfully and successfully. I-inally the 
collection of contraband- about here became very large, soirie 
5000 or more, and he expressed great anxiety foi' their wel- 
faie and education 1 ev. Dr. Stone, Chaplain of the 44th, 
co-operated, and the African Baptisi Church was opei.ed as 
a school-house. Five bundled oi' more, of all ages, \Aere col- 
lected for instruciioTi (iood progress was made. Three 
months since General Foster appjinted him Superintendent 
of Conti-abands. He labored diligently and with much suc- 
cess, i hree weeks auo he was commissioned as Captain by 
Governoi" Stanley . lie built bai'iacks, and (»ther\N ise pio- 
vided for the unforiunate class he had chai'ge of. His dis- 
ease was typhoid fever ; his age 50. Deleaves a wife, son 
and three daughters. he procession yesterday was headed 
by a Band of the 45th ; several clergymen were pall-bearers ; 
there were a few- intimate fiiends, and then came a long- 
procession of weeping Contiabands. His death was hasten- 
ed by by the destruction of some of liis people's barracks by 
rowdy soldiers." Buiial at Andover. 

Robert VIeans, Esq., older brother of the above, deceas- 
ed at Beaufort, S. C. about the same date, and was interred 
at Exeter, May 80. He w^as a native of Amherst ; Collector 
and Marshal at Manchester; mayor of Sioux City; and held 
vari( us offices under Government. He was a very genial 
and companionable man, and very popular. 




^^fOM 



CLOSING SKETCHES. 



ino 



A soiuewliat .siiiiiular epi^ocU- in the liisoiy of our tou n m 
th ■ wai- was the^api'pointiiieiit of IVter WoodbiiVN Joi es. 
Kk(i., as superiuteiHleiit of a Soutlieiii Railioiul. as -iveii iu 
the 6V//;///e/ r»f Dec. lltli. 1S6;^ : 

"Our enterprisiiiii towusuia i. Peter \\'iio(II)urv floiies. 
Escp. lias lec ived froii. (nMieial Butler the ap]'oiiitiiieut. 




PETRR W. JONKS. 

of Superintendent of the Corinth Eaih-oad, at tlie lib- 
eral salary of $1 •2,000 per year. He leaves soon to enter 
upon the duties of that office." 

Mr. Jones was an enterprising Railroad Contractor and 
Builder, and, but for the superseding of General Butler, 
would have done some good work for our Southern brethren. 



17) 



AMHERST IN THE WAR. 



CAPT. GEOROE W. BOSWORTH. 

Oil the breakinjx out of the ^var Capt. Rosworth en listed 
at Lyndel)or n\^h (where he had marred.) n the 16th N. H , 
iid was imtnediatlev appointed a recniitinfj officer, Mn tre- 
ed as Captain of Co. O, serving- with honor in the Dep't. of 
the Gulf, under Gen Banks, and took part in the siege of 
Port Hudson. Was mnstered out in 18!J8, at the expira 'on 




of the time of service. Returnino- to Lyudeborough, he re- 
enlisted as a private in Co. F, ISth N. H. Infantry, and was 
mustered in as Captain of the company ; served in Virginia 
in front of Petersburg, and the vicinity of Fort Steadman, 
until close of the war. He moved to Amherst in 1866, and 
adopted the profession of a commercial traveller, which he 
still follows. 



CLOSING SKETCHES. 



171 



JOHN P HODGMAN, 

Born in Hedford, N, H., Nov. 26, 1840, enlisted iti Co. K. 
4th N.H. V. .Ans'. 16, 1861, ; served in the liepartnient of 
the South until 1864 ; re-enlisten in Fel>. lo64 ; served in the 
Army of the Potomac until wounded, Aug. 16, at Deep Hmi. 




Va., ; returned to the Regiment Dee. 22 ; took part m tl <■ 
campaign against Fort Fisher, under General Terry ; dis- 
charged with Regiment August, 1865. Resided in A.ndierst 
mostly since 1870. and a civilian of excellent and Christian 
reconl. 



172 A Mil RUST I\ TIIK W \\\ 

Tlif followiiiq,' thcoitIs are from hHad-stoiies in the (,\^mi'- 
tcry ow Chestnut Ililis : 

Thouias Melemly Born Marcli 'Jd, 174!); die 1 Nov. -JSih, 
1842. A .Soldier in the ll(' volution. 

Peter Melendy— Born Oct. 1st, 1784 ; died May 15. 182,5. 
.A Lieutenant in the War of 1812. 

Jose]ih Manning- — Died flniie 11. ISOO, aged (57 Soldier 
in the War of 1812. (He carried a liullet in hi- person froni 
the war to the orave."* 



On this 2Hth <lay of fJanuary. 18!)4, the auihor and pub- 
lisher of this volume enters the mystical "fourscore," and 
celebrates his eightieth birthday V)y the coni]>let^on of its 
ty[>ographical composition ; a work that has occupied his 
hands daily for fourteen montlis. That it is all that he 
could wish it, or all he pi'oposed it should be, or all that it 
n)ight have been, is not true. Slackness on the part of those 
most closely connected with its design, the Soldiers and 
their friends, in furnishing material which none else could, 
and utter failure in many cases to meet positive engage- 
ments has mateiially detracted from its value, and delayed 
its appearance. Bad promises, and l)ad pictures tore-pro- 
duce, and the difficulty with which some of these have l>een 
obtained, have greatly increased the difficulties of the work. 
Such as it is, with all its short comings and imperfections 
it is committed to the public and the future, as a record of 
prompt local patrio1is7n that ever must be regarded with pride 
and pleasure by those to whom we shall soon be known no 
more and all who in the future may till the places that we 
now fill. If it shall serve to inspire them with a kindred 
love for and devotion to the interests of our loved Union, 
the highest end of its publication, and desire of its author, 
will be accomplished. 



DEC 1802 



